The Kodiak Police Department contacted the Coast Guard at 8:30 pm and informed them of a possible medical emergency aboard a fishing vessel on the south end of the island on Monday.

It was reported that a diver aboard the 48-foot fishing vessel Patricia Kay was forced to surface quickly after running out of air while diving for sea cucumbers.

CPR was administered and the master of the vessel called for assistance. According to the report, the 24-year-old man was suffering from shortness of breath and intermittent consciousness.

After the Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center was notified, the duty flight surgeon was contacted and he recommended a medevac.

“My recommendation for the medevac was due to the patient’s complex and uncertain symptoms including his possible cardiac arrest and the severity of his symptoms at the time,” said Cmdr. Kevin Nolan, the on-call Coast Guard duty flight surgeon, at Rockmore-King Clinic. “The vessel crew performed CPR and they did the right thing by calling the Coast Guard for help. Based on his symptoms it was necessary to medevac him to a higher level of care.”

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was launched from Kodiak and flew to the scene in Alitak Bay on the south end of the island.

Upon there arrival, the Jayhawk’s crew hoisted the injured diver from the vessel at 10:33 pm. He was flown 92 miles back to Air Station Kodiak and transferred to the hospital in stable condition.

The Patricia Kay is home-ported in Kodiak.