Coast Guard sends two helicopters to ill sailor at sea

Two Icelandic Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched earlier Monday after a crew member fell ill aboard a Norwegian longline fishing vessel, mbl.is reported.

The vessel was outside Iceland’s economic zone, northwest of Látrabjarg, when its captain contacted the Coast Guard in the morning. The crew was asked to sail into Iceland’s economic zone.

Coast Guard information officer Ásgeir Erlendsson said both helicopters are sent whenever an operation takes place so far offshore. One helicopter flew to Ísafjörður to remain on standby, while the other went to collect the sailor, who needed medical attention. The latter was expected to arrive in Reykjavík between 2 and 3 p.m.

Erlendsson said there had been an unusually high number of callouts far offshore recently, including a similar operation on Sunday.

The Coast Guard also recently responded to a callout that took it all the way to Greenland. “It is nevertheless pleasing that we have been able to respond quickly and effectively to all these callouts,” Erlendsson said.