A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew hoisted the patient, and his two adult sons, and transferred them to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers in stable condition, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

At approximately 8 p.m., a crewmember called in via marine radio channel 16 to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders that the man was having difficulty breathing.

The Coast Guard encourages all mariners to have reliable forms of communication in the event of emergencies.