Coast Guard rescues ship captain off Florida Atlantic coast

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A ship captain suffering a medical emergency about 240 miles off Florida's Atlantic coast was plucked from his vessel by helicopter and taken to shore for medical treatment.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the 62-year-old man was experiencing severe head pain and collapsed on Monday night when rescue crews were notified.

The Coast Guard says he was helming the Miss Simona, a 590-foot bulk carrier from Italy. It was about 240 miles east of St. Augustine when the problems occurred.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was sent out at about 11 p.m., and successfully transported the captain to an Orlando hospital.

The captain's name and condition were not released.