According to reports, the storm made landfall in Haiti early this morning carrying winds of 145 mph causing devastating damage to the island. Hurricane Matthew is expected to pass over eastern Cuba and portions of the Bahamas later today then heading toward the US, dropping down to a category 3 with 120 mph winds.
The Coast Guard is reporting that it medically evacuated a 76-year-old man on Thursday September 29th off the Celebrity cruise ship Infinity approximately 30 miles southwest of Brookings, Oregon. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders were notified at approximately 1:10 p.m. that a 76-year-old male passenger was reportedly suffering from internal bleeding. Due to the severity of his condition, a Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended that the man be taken off the cruise ship and to a shore side hospital for treatment. A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew was dispatched from Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay and arrived on scene at approximately 2:45 p.m. The helicopter landed on the cruise ship to board the man along with a ship’s nurse. They were transported to an awaiting emergency medical services personnel at St. John’s Hospital in Eureka, California.
The Coast Guard is reporting that it medevaced a 60-year-old woman passenger from the Carnival Triumph cruise ship. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call at 8:43 pm on Monday, September 26th, from the Carnival Triumph requesting a medevac of one of its passengers who was injured during the cruise. The request was related to Coast Guard Station Venice who dispatched a 45-foot response boat which met the cruise ship approximately seven miles off the Venice, Louisiana coast at 9:39 p.m. The injured passenger and her husband were transported to emergency medical services at the Venice Coast Guard Station. The couple were then transported by ambulance to Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner. The passenger is listed in stable condition. It is unknown at this time what caused the injury. The Carnival Triumph is currently sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans.
A boating accident in south Biscayne Bay sends one boater to the hospital. It is being reported that at 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews were called to a boating accident scene where one person was significantly injured. The incident happened in Biscayne Bay National Park near Elliot Key to the east and approximately 5 miles from Turkey Point to the west. On scene, Fire Rescue assessed the injured person as a trauma alert and called for a medical evacuation air team. Fire Rescue assisted with hoisting the victim onto a helicopter. The boater was taken to a local trauma center and is currently listed in critical condition. Though the accident involved only one boat, it is unknown if the vessel struck an object or ran aground. A local salvage company towed the vessel back to Black Point Marina. Other passengers were taken off by other boats in the area before Fire Rescue arrived. None of the other passengers were hurt. This accident occurred within in 12 hours of the boating fatality of Florida Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.
A 47-year-old crew member of the Ruby Princess cruise ship was airlifted during the early hours of Saturday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard after reports that he was having symptoms of a heart attack.
