KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward deployed to Cordova, medevaced an ailing mariner from a fishing vessel in Prince William Sound Tuesday.
The Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the 61-year-old man, reportedly suffering from stroke-like symptoms, from the 273-foot fishing vessel Island Enterprise and transported him to Valdez where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services for treatment.
Coast Guard 17th District Command Center watchstanders received a request from Healthforce Partners at 4:38 a.m. and immediately directed the launch of the Jayhawk.
The crew rendezvoused with the fishing vessel, safely hoisted the ailing man and returned to the Valdez airport to transfer the man to emergency medical personnel.
“This case illustrates the importance of having our Coast Guard crew forward deployed to certain locations during peak fishing seasons,” said Chief Petty Officer Christopher Cole, a Coast Guard 17th District Command Center watchstander. “Because of this, our helicopter crew was able to get on scene and provide assistance in significantly less time than it would have taken them to respond from Kodiak.”
Weather on scene at the time of the incident was reported as 9 mph winds and 1-foot seas.
For more information, contact Petty Officer 3rd Jonathan Klingenberg at 907-321-4505.