(ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.) -- The Coast Guard medavaced an injured crewmember off the Turkish flagged merchant vessel Askabat approximately 400 miles northeast of Bermuda, Thursday morning. The 31-year-old male chief officer of the vessel broke his arm and was bleeding heavily from an open wound, according to the notification from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre Bermuda at 5:35 p.m. Tuesday.

On Tuesday [Dec 14] evening, the Turkish registered general cargo ship M/V Askabat was 350 nautical miles north east of Bermuda and reported having a 31 year old crew member that had received injuries to the hand and arm that required hospitalization.

The ship was on it’s way from Norfolk, Virginia to Waterford, Ireland and diverted to Bermuda while a Coast Guard helicopter and C130 fixed wing aircraft left Elizabeth City, North Carolina made their way to the Bermuda area to await the ship.

At approximately 8:05am today the Coast Guard was able to winch the injured crew member of the M/V Askabat as it was 68 nautical miles off Bermuda. The injured crew member was brought by helicopter to L.F. Wade International Airport to an awaiting ambulance where he was transported to King Edward Memorial Hospital and is now receiving treatment to his injuries.

Helicopter landed on Bermuda to refuel

Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules and a MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crews from Air Station Elizabeth City were launched Wednesday morning to assist in the recovery of the injured man. Due to the distance involved, both assets landed in Bermuda to refuel.

Hazardous weather conditions of 40-50 mph winds and 12-15 foot seas kept the aircraft grounded throughout the night, and the medevac was postponed until the following morning.

At approximately 5:40 a.m. Thursday, the helicopter crew hoisted the chief officer from the vessel and flew the injured man to waiting Emergency Medical Service personnel in Bermuda for treatment.

"What went really well was the excellent coordination between Bermuda RCC Rescue Co-ordination Center, Coast Guard District Five, Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Air Station Elizabeth City personnel to effect the rescue despite changing, challenging weather conditions and changes to the timeline of the rescue itself,' said Lt. Greg Dahl, a MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter pilot from Air Station Elizabeth City.

Coast Guard personnel and the personnel at the airport assisted with a couple maintenance issues we had ... The coordination between all the people involved made it successful. Everyone worked very well together."