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Office of Public Affairs |
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| News Release |
Date: Dec. 5, 2008 |
Coast Guard flies 4,300 miles to conduct medevac off Alaska's Aleutian Chain*Video Available Below* |
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| JUNEAU, Alaska - Coast Guard rescue crews flew 4,300 miles to conduct a medical evacuation of a 58-year-old Filipino crewman aboard a bulk carrier 50 miles east of Attu Island, Alaska, Wednesday and returned the the crewmember safely to Kodiak, Alaska, Thursday night.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules airplane flew from Kodiak to Adak Island, Alaska Tuesday but could not medevac the injured crewmember until Wednesday due to winds in excess of 50 mph and 25-foot seas. The survivor was safely hoisted into the helicopter Wednesday at 2 p.m. in 40 mph winds and nine-foot seas and flown to Shemya Island, Alaska reportedly in stable condition. The injured crewmember was temporarily treated at a medical facility on Shemya Island overnight. A Coast Guard C-130 safely transferred the injured crewmember to awaiting emergency medical services at Air Station Kodiak Thursday at 10:45 p.m. The Coast Guard initially received a high frequency radio call Monday at 8:54 p.m. from the captain of the Lavieen Rose requesting a medevac for the injured crewmember. The Lavieen Rose crew was able to treat the injured Filipino crewmember aboard the vessel after he was injured in heavy sea conditions. The Panamanian-flagged vessel was en route from Tacoma, Wash. to Hiro, Japan. The vessel has resumed its previous course. The captain of the Lavieen Rose reported the crewmember sustained a broken right arm and possible spinal injuries. To view video of the injured crewmember being hoisted into the Jayhawk helicopter, click the link below. http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=429879 To view the injured crewmember being transferred from the C-130 to emergency medical services at Air Station Kodiak, click the link below. |
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