A 41-year-old man working on a fishing vessel far out on the Bering Sea had to be medevaced by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew after suffering a neck injury on Wednesday.
The 173-foot commercial fishing Blue North issued the maritime medvac request Wednesday afternoon after a crewmember suffered a neck injury while working on board, the Coast Guard wrote in a Thursday press release. The vessel was about 285 miles northwest of the remote island of St. Paul when the emergency request was made.
A Jayhawk helicopter crew stationed at the Coast Guard’s forward operating location in Cold Bay was sent to airlift the injured crewmember to safety. Two HC-130 Hercules airplanes were also sent from Kodiak to assist, the Coast Guard said.
“The crew was instructed by watchstanders to transit toward St. Paul in order to be in hoist range of the helicopter aircrew.” Coast Guard officials said.
The vessel was about 230 miles northwest of St. Paul when the Jayhawk arrived at its location.
“The Jayhawk crew hoisted the 41-year-old man and transferred him to an awaiting Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules airplane crew in St. Paul who transported him to Anchorage for medical care,” the Coast Guard said.
“Due to the distance, it took a concentrated effort between the watchstanders, fishing vessel and aircrews to coordinate the long-range medevac,” said Petty Officer 1st Class in the press release.
“Our crews worked diligently to complete this complex mission and we’re glad we were able to assist the man and get him to the medical care he needed.”
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Source: USCG News
