Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District

United States Coast Guard
Date: Dec. 9, 2009
Contact: (907) 487-5700
Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis
News Release

Filipino man medevaced by Coast Guard from 150 miles offshore

KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter prepares to hoist the 61-year-old Filipino master of the 590-foot Luna Spirit, a Panamanian-flagged car carrier, from the ship's deck 150 miles southeast of Kodiak Island Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009. The man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis. KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and members of Kodiak Coast Guard Fire and Rescue transfer the 61-year-old Filipino master of the 590-foot car carrier Luna Spirit from the rescue helicopter to the Kodiak City ambulance at the Coast Guard Air Station in Kodiak Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009. The man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke and was hoisted by the helicopter crew Wednesday morning. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis. KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter hoists the 61-year-old Filipino master of the 590-foot Luna Spirit, a Panamanian-flagged car carrier, from the ship's deck 150 miles southeast of Kodiak Island Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009. The man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.
Editors Note: Photo and video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.
To view the video or high resolution photos please click on the image above.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew safely completed the medevac of a 61-year old Filipino master from the Luna Spirit 150 miles southeast of Kodiak Island at about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Raul Sempio was hoisted from the 590-foot Panamanian-flagged vessel and flown to Kodiak where emergency medical personnel transported him to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center. The man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke. His condition was reported as stable.

Coast Guard personnel were contacted Tuesday evening by the crew of the Luna Spirit requesting the medevac for the master. An MH-60 helicopter from Kodiak was launched at 9 a.m. to conduct the medevac. A second MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, also from Kodiak, was launched to fly cover for the first helicopter crew and provide communications while offshore.

The Luna Spirit, a car carrier, was more than 500 miles southeast of Kodiak on a voyage from Los Angeles to Japan at the time of the request. They have resumed their original course.

Weather on scene was 23 mph winds from the southeast and sea swells up to 20 feet.

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