Coast Guard helicopter sent to evacuate ill fisherman

An Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter was sent to evacuate an ill man from a fishing vessel, mbl.is reported on Friday.

The vessel contacted the Coast Guard control centre in the morning and requested that the man be taken for medical treatment, according to Ásgeir Erlendsson, the Coast Guard’s information officer.

The ship was about 45 nautical miles off Ísafjarðardjúp. It was sailing closer to shore to make it easier for the helicopter to hoist the man aboard because of significant wave height.

The man will most likely be taken to Landspítali hospital in Fossvogur, although Akureyri Hospital is also a possible destination.