Coast Guard Rescues 2 From Gulf

Gulf Of Mexico Tropical Storm Ida Oil rig damaged by Ida; 2 crewmen rescued in Gulf south of New Orleans.

by WKRG Staff

Published: Mon, November 09, 2009 - 5:39 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, November 09, 2009 - 5:53 pm CST

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - The following is a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard rescued two crewmen from an oil rig after it was damaged by Hurricane Ida approximately 80 miles south of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico Monday.

The Coast Guard received a request for the two crewmen to be evacuated from the berthing rig from workers aboard the rig who reported a lift boat which was tied off to the rig had broken loose damaging the berthing satellite and walkway which connected the two structures. Workers aboard the rig feared it may collapse into the Gulf of Mexico.

A Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched at approximately 4:50 a.m. The rescue helicopter crew hoisted both men to the helicopter in 28 mph winds and arrived back at Air Station New Orleans at 6:15 a.m. where they were met by representatives from Chevron.

"It's a good thing we got the call when we did," said Lt. Marc Lanore, a pilot at Air Station New Orleans, who flew the helicopter during the rescue mission. "If it were any later we may not have been able to preform the rescue because of the effects of Hurricane Ida."

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