The USS Zumwalt, the Navy's new guided missile destroyer, underwent a test to determine life and death when it saved the life of a fisherman who was experiencing chest pains off the coast of Maine.
Dale Sparrow, the 46-year-old captain of the fishing vessel Danny Boy, was experiencing chest pains and requested assistance from a Coast guard helicopter, but the crew determined that it was too dangerous to try and hoist the captain because of his fishing vessel's 45-foot deck configuration.
The 600-foot-long Zumwalt, built at Bath Iron Works, was conducting sea trials Saturday morning when it picked up signals from the Coast Guard requesting assistance for Sparrow. The sleath destroyer responded to the scene and launched an 11-meter "rigid hull inflatable boat" to bring Sparrow on-board, according to The Portland Press Herald.
Sparrow was given a medical evaluation and was then taken via a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to an area hospital. He is reported to have been stable condition.
"Our main concern with this type of medical emergency is to recover the patient safely and transport them to a higher level care as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the Zumwalt was operating in the area and was able to provide valuable assistance," said Lt. David Bourbeau, public affairs officer with the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.
The $4.3 billion Zumwalt is the latest and biggest addition to the Navy. The warship's rescue took place at at around 3:00 a.m., DB Techno reported.
Bath Iron Works praised the shipping crew in a statement: "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is incredibly proud of the work its men and women did alongside the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard to rescue a fisherman in distress," said BIW spokesman Matt Wickenheiser. "Their actions reflected the highest values of our company. Following the rescue, BIW, the Navy and other Naval contractors returned to the task at hand, running sea trials for DDG 1000, the future USS Zumwalt."
The Zumwalt is under the captaincy of Commander James A. Kirk, who has led the sea testing operations since Dec. 7, according to Examiner.
