The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man in Barataria Bay after he severed his arm on a shrimping boat.

Late Friday evening, a shrimp boat in Barataria Bay called the U.S. Coast Guard with a distress call that a crewmember -- Daniel Smith, 36, Lafourche -- had severed his left arm above his elbow with the boat’s wench, according the U.S. Coast Guard.

A crew was dispatched with a helicopter from New Orleans.

Forty minutes after the call, the U.S. Coast Guard hoisted Smith into the helicopter, where the medic stabilized Smith to minimize blood loss.  His severed arm was placed in a plastic bag and transported in an ice cooler, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Smith was flown to Tulane Hospital in less than hour after receiving the call.  Attempts are being made to reattach the arm, according the U.S. Coast Guard.