An oil spill worker is rescued after spending six hours in Gulf Waters.
The Coast Guard says 49-year-old Ricky Johnson was reported overboard at 3:00 a.m. by a decontamination vessel working at the spill site, 50 miles off the coast of Venice, Louisiana.
The vessel C-Escort joined the search for Johnson and later requested help from the Coast Guard at about 6:00 a.m. The Coast Guard dispatched the helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, and a C-144 Casa airplane from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile.
The C-Escort spotted Johnson about 9:00 a.m. and relayed his position to the Coast Guard. Johnson first tried to climb aboard the C-Escort but was too weak. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer descended from the helicopter and helped Johnson into a rescue basket. He was then hoisted up to the helicopter.
Johnson was transported to West Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana for treatment. His condition is unknown.
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