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A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew safely medevacs an injured 65-year-old man near Kodiak, Alaska, Nov. 4, 2014. The hunter and his group were carrying a deer when a sloth of bears attacked and injured the man. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak Alaska. |
KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced an injured 65-year-old man near Kodiak, Tuesday.
The Jayhawk crew safely transported the hunter to Kodiak Municipal Airport where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services.
Coast Guard 17th District watchstanders received a call from the master of the fishing vessel Mary J who reported that a group of hunters had been attacked by a sloth of bears and one hunter needed immediate medical assistance.
The duty flight surgeon recommended a medevac and a flight corpsman to accompany the Jayhawk helicopter crew to the scene.
The master of the fishing vessel reported that he had transported the hunters to Sally Island and was waiting nearby for the hunters to return when the attack took place. The bears had come upon the hunters while they were carrying a deer they shot. No other hunters were injured.
“These hunters were extremely prepared for the environment and circumstances they found themselves in,” said Lt. j.g. Joseph Schlosser, operational unit watchstander, Coast Guard 17th District. “The fact that there were five bears was an abnormality and this serves as a reminder that anything can happen and we need to be aware of our surroundings.”
For information on bear safety, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game page here.
Weather on scene was reported as 11 mph winds and 11-mile visibility.