A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fishery observer suffering severe abdominal pain was helicoptered from a factory trawler about 30 miles off the Washington coast by the Coast Guard Friday night, according to a Coast Guard statement.

“For mariners, an illness at sea can quickly become life threatening,” said Lt. junior grade Dave Strojny, the co-pilot for the mission. “Thankfully, we were able to get out there and expeditiously hoist the individual and deliver him to a higher level of medical care.”

The Coast Guard received the initial call at 9:02 p.m. from the 252-foot factory trawler American Triumph. A crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector Columbia River launched at 10:14 p.m. and was on scene at 10:37. After briefing the vessel operators with the duty flight surgeon, the decision was made to take the man from the ship just before 11 p.m., and he was taken to Columbia Medical Center in Astoria, Ore. for further treatment. The man’s current condition is not known, according to the Coast Guard.

According to NOAA, fishery observers collect data from U.S. commercial fishing and processing vessels as well as from shore-side processing plants. The data they collect are used to monitor fisheries, assess fish populations, set fishing quotas, and inform management. They also support compliance with fishing and safety regulations.