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A spear fisherman was rescued by the Coast Guard after getting stranded in rough waters off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands during a tropical storm on Sunday, dramatic video shows. 

The Coast Guard dispatched a boat crew and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to the scene near Dog Island after receiving a distress call at 8:30 a.m. from the man's friend, who was on a nearby boat. 

Tropical Storm Earl dropped heavy rainfall across the Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend and is expected to become a hurricane later this week. 

An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer to secure the fisherman in a harness. 

An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer to secure the fisherman in a harness.  (Coast Guard)

The crew tried to get a heaving line to the injured man, but six-foot waves stopped them from getting close enough to rescue him, so a rescue swimmer deployed from the helicopter and used a harness to secure the fisherman. 

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The injured survivor, who is over 50 years old, was transported to the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas for treatment. 

Coast Guard

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