Fisherman Receives Mustard Burns from CWM Find

New Bedford, Massachusetts A crew member aboard the commercial fishing vessel, the ESS Pursuit, received mustard burns after he handled a CWM munition while at sea. The fishing vessel was clamming off the shores of Long Island and had gathered 32 bushels of clams using 180 cages when one crew member inspecting the load noticed a long rusted metallic object in with the load. The crew member reportedly grabbed the object which he later reported as a "leaking object" and tossed it overboard. Shortly afterward, the crew member's skin began to burn and blister.

The crew called for medical assistance and the man was transported to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Toxicology tests on the man revealed that he had been exposed to mustard. Although the man is badly burned, he is expected to make a full recovery and should be released from the hospital within a few days. Coast Guard officials are keeping the commercial fishing vessel at bay outside New Bedford Harbor where it is currently undergoing inspection and decontamination.

More than 80 local, state and federal forces have responded to the incident including a team of Massachusetts National Guardsmen and Navy EOD personnel. At this point, authorities are unsure how long the vessel will be quarantine or how long the decontamination process will take. The crew's catch has also been isolated pending testing to see if it is contaminated. It will likely be destroyed even it does not contain evidence of CWM due to the potential for cross contamination.

Another crew member who complained of eye irritation, tingling around his mouth and an upset stomach was sent to the hospital for observation but was later released.