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January 17, 2008

Coast Guard flies R.I. fisherman from boat to hospital

After complaining about chest pains, a Rhode Island fisherman was flown by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter yesterday to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment.

The 45-year-old fisherman, Barry Clapt, was in stable condition today at the Hyannis, Mass. hospital, a spokesman said.

Clapt was taken from the Narragansett-based trawler Mary Elena after 11:30 a.m., said Petty Officer Lauren Downs. Downs said she did not know where Clapt lived, but said he was a Rhode Island resident. He was part of a crew fishing 180 miles southeast of Cape Cod, she said.

The Canadian Coast Guard contacted the U.S. Coast Guard’s First District Command Center after U.S. radios failed to pick up the calls for help from the 77-foot trawler, Downs said.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched two jets and a helicopter, said Lt. Engrid Elso.

A Falcon jet based at the Air Station in Cape Cod was diverted from a nearby patrol to communicate with the crew aboard the Mary Elena. A second jet also flew to the spot. A helicopter from the air station took the ailing crewman to Hyannis Airport where emergency workers took him to the hospital.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Davis

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:01 PM | Permalink

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