U.S. Coast Guard transported a shark attack victim

Shark attack victim medevacked from Kiribati area waters to Oahu

The U.S. Coast Guard transported a shark attack victim from South Pacific waters to Oahu for treatment.

The attack occurred 740 miles southeast of Tarawa Atoll in the Republic of Kiribati, which is situated southwest of the Marshall Islands, the Coast Guard said today in a news release.

A 35-year-old Portuguese national entered the water to untangle fishing net from a submerged object and was attacked by a shark, causing severe injury to his arm.

The Coast Guard said it received word on Friday from the U.S. flagged vessel Friesland that a crewmember was in need of urgent medical care following a shark attack. A Coast Guard flight surgeon was consulted and recommended the crew apply a tourniquet and treat for shock.

An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew was launched from Air Station Barbers Point Sunday with a six member surgical team from Kalawao Rescue to conduct the medevac, the Coast Guard said.

The Hercules flew 2,386 miles to Tarawa and waited for the patient who was flown to shore by helicopter. He arrived on Oahu today in stable condition and was transferred to awaiting emergency medical technicians at Air Station Barbers Point for care.

The Coast Guard said it regularly conducts long range medevac and missions across the Central and South Pacific.

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