Chennai: The Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday evacuated a sick crew member of a merchant ship Panamax-4 in its helicopter, the coastal security agency said.

A statement issued here said the merchant ship, approximately 50 km in the Bay of Bengal, was proceeding to Paradip.

According to the Coast Guard the maritime rescue sub-centre at Visakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh received a request to evacuate 26-year-old crew member Ishitiyak Ahmed as his health was deteriorating fast.

A Coast Guard helicopter landed on the merchant ship and Ahmed was taken to a hospital in Visakapatnam. His condition is now stable, the statement added.

According to the Coast Guard it has saved more than 4,696 lives and helped in 238 medical evacuations.-Agency