Man Medevaced From Tour Boat off Molokini, Maui

Molokini Crater. File photo by Wendy Osher.

A 48-year-old man was medically evacuated from a tour boat near the Molokini Crater off of Maui on Tuesday morning, May 31, 2016, after experiencing difficulty breathing.

Coast Guard officials say the man was aboard the Lahaina Princess when the incident occurred at around 10:03 a.m.

A Station Maui 45-foot Response Boat-Medium was diverted from a training mission to the scene at around 10:20 a.m.  The crew safely transported the man to Māʻalaea Pier where they were met by EMS who administered oxygen.

Coast Guard Station Maui is one of four small boat stations in the Coast Guard 14th District.

Located on the south shore of Maui at Māʻalaea Harbor, the unit has a compliment of 20 active duty members, three reservists and two auxiliarists. Their area of responsibility encompasses Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kaho’olawe as well as Molokini Crater.

Search and rescue is one of their primary missions and can be everything from a sinking vessel or downed small plane to a heart attack victim or a swimmer taken out to sea by a rip current.