The USCGC Mellon, a High Endurance Cutter homeported in Seattle, Washington, participated in the rescue of a Costa Rican fisherman who became seriously ill while on board the Costa Rican fishing boat the Maria Bonita.
According to the US Embassy in San José report, the fisherman, who was loacted some 200 nautical miles from Golfito, was identified as Alexis Gutiérrez Rodríguez. The 50 year old man is a resident of the Golfito area.
The USCGC Mellon was in Golfito a few days ago and by luck found the Maria Bonita offshore and immediately came to the aid of the angler, co-ordinating with a US Navy ship in the event the fisherman needed to be airlifted to shore. However, the USCGC Mellon medics were able to stabilize Rodríguez, who had suffered symptoms of appendicitis.
The fisherman was handed over to a Costa Rican coastguard patrol boat and taken to the Golfito hospital.
The Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (MSP) thanked the humanitarian action by US authorities.
Source: US Embassy San José