A 61-year-old observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was evacuated from a fishing boat yesterday morning after a life-threatening arm injury led the Coast Guard and Navy to go to his rescue.

The man was flown by helicopter to Marine Corps Base Hawai'i last night and taken to The Queen's Medical Center, a Navy spokesman said.

The 57-foot boat Jane was roughly 460 miles from O'ahu when the Coast Guard was contacted for medical assistance. A Coast Guard C-130 plane based at Barbers Point found the boat and dropped medical supplies Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS Chafee, on its way back from Alaska, traveled 334 miles to reach the Jane. The boats rendezvoused yesterday morning, and the patient was treated on the Chafee before being flown to O'ahu.