Coast Guard assists multiple agencies with mountain rescue, Sitka, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew transfers an injured hiker to awaiting emergency medical services in Sitka, Alaska, June 15, 2019. The 55-year-old man required medical evacuation after reportedly falling 100 feet while hiking in the Sisters Mountains with two other people. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photos.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew assisted Alaska State Troopers and Sitka Mountain Rescue personnel to hoist a 50-year-old man who fell off a steep cliff while hiking the Sisters Mountains in Sitka, Alaska, Saturday.​

The man was transferred to Sitka emergency medical services personnel in stable condition but with reported head injuries.

Sector Juneau command center watchstanders received notification from Sitka Fire Department personnel at approximately 2 p.m. requesting helicopter support for a man who fell approximately 100 feet while hiking and was reported to have sustained a head and potential back injury from the fall. District 17 command center watchstanders directed the launch of an Air Station Sitka helicopter crew to assist with the rescue.​

Sitka Mountain Rescue personnel escorted two other hikers in the party off the mountain after the man was safely hoisted.​

“This was definitely a challenging mountain rescue based on the deteriorating weather, altitude and rugged terrain,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Jacobs, a pilot on the case. “It highlights the interagency cooperation, advanced training and unique mission sets that Coast Guard units execute daily in Southeast Alaska.”

The rescue occurred at 2,000 ft. in elevation with 3 mph winds, 4 miles visibility with patchy fog, light rain and an air temperature of 52 degrees.​

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Coast Guard suspends search for unconfirmed persons in water near Anchorage

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Jeff Mistrick (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska​ — The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday for unconfirmed persons in the water after a skiff was found on the west shore of Knik Arm with keys still in the ignition.

Commander Coast Guard Sector Anchorage suspended the search at 10:15 p.m., pending new information or reports of any missing persons related to the abandoned skiff.

The search included efforts from the Coast Guard, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, Alaska Air National Guard, Anchorage Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers.

Searches in the air were completed by a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircraft crew, an Air National Guard C-130 aircraft crew, and two Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter crews.​

The search covered approximately 388 square miles.

"Details discovered during the investigative processes led us to believe that nobody associated with the vessel was in distress," said Senior Petty Officer Erik Patterson, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command duty officer for the case. "After an extensive search yesterday afternoon into the evening, unless we hear that someone associated with this vessel is unaccounted for, this case is suspended for search and rescue."

Details about how the skiff ended up abandoned are under investigation. The Coast Guard is coordinating salvage of the vessel with the skiff's owner. The skiff's hull has been labeled with contact information for the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center in the event that it is rediscovered or ends up in a different location prior to being salvaged.​

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Coast Guard, others search for unconfirmed person in the water near Anchorage

HC-130J, U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Harper (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska​ — The Coast Guard and others are searching Tuesday for an unconfirmed person in the water near Anchorage after an overturned skiff was found aground on the west shoreline of Knik Arm.​

Coast Guard watchstanders in the Sector Anchorage command center received a call from a concerned citizen at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday reporting the overturned vessel with keys still in the ignition, approximately 1 mile east of Goose Bay Airport. The Coast Guard later learned that the skiff had been observed as early as Sunday by other people in the area.

The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast. The Anchorage Fire Department responded to the broadcast and began to search in the vicinity of the overturned skiff, along with an Alaska Rescue Coordination Center helicopter crew.

Coast Guard watchstanders contacted the last known owner of the skiff who stated he'd given it away to a friend of a friend.

A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules Aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak is searching this evening, along with crews from Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

"We've had no reports of anyone missing or overdue, but we're searching with our partner agencies for a person in the water this evening," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Erik Patterson, Sector Anchorage command duty officer for the case. It is possible that someone took this boat out without telling anyone where they were going or when they planned to return, and they might be in distress."

Anyone with any information about the skiff is encouraged to call the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center at 907-428-4100.

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Coast Guard rescues three people off William Henry Mountain in Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

JUNEAU, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew hoisted three people from William Henry Mountain, northwest of William Henry Bay in Lynn Canal Monday morning.

The two men and one woman were hoisted and brought to Juneau where no medical concerns were reported.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received an agency assist request from the Alaska State Troopers Sunday evening stating three hunters were stranded on the mountain, in no immediate distress, but had exhausted their provisions.

Based on the lack of immediate distress, Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders determined it was safer to wait until first light Monday to conduct the rescue. The Jayhawk crew arrived in Juneau, embarked two Juneau Mountain Rescue members and proceeded to the scene. Upon arriving on scene, the Jayhawk crew determined it was safe to conduct a hoist and rescued all three people.

“Having the Juneau Mountain Rescue members aboard our helicopter allowed us the ability to lower them to provide assistance if we were unable to safely conduct the hoist,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Gee, Sector Juneau command watchstander. “It truly highlights the extent we and partner agencies go to ensure safety of all no matter what level of distress.”

Weather on scene was 30 mph winds and 3 miles visibility.

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Coast Guard assists Alaska State Troopers to search for missing 74-year-old man near Haines

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

KODIAK, Alaska – Two Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews, Alaska State Troopers personnel, a canine search team, and two ground teams are searching for a 74-year-old man in a heavily wooded area approximately 28 miles northwest of Haines, Alaska, Sunday.

Coast Guard aircrews and three canine search teams from Skagway, Juneau and the local Haines area are searching by air and land to saturate the wooded area he is suspected to be in. He is reported to have been last seen at his residence at 10:30 a.m., wearing jeans and a blue and white long sleeve button–down shirt, Friday.

His vehicle was located, parked and unoccupied, on a remote road at 6 p.m., Saturday. The man has no reported medical issues or mental instability.

Saturday night, at approximately 9:31 p.m., District 17 command center watchstanders received an agency assist from Alaska State Troopers for a helicopter assist due to the inability of local ground searchers to access the heavily wooded area after sunset. District 17 command center directed the launch of an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to conduct the search. The Jayhawk aircrew conducted a one hour search utilizing night vision goggles, forward-looking infrared radar, and a spot light. A secondary flight was conducted Sunday afternoon.

“This case exemplifies the abilities of the federal, state and local agencies to seamlessly coordinate efforts to execute search and rescue,” said Lt. Daniel Piazza, the District 17 command center command duty officer. “We will continue working tirelessly as a team to search for this man in efforts to get him home.”

Weather on scene was 10 miles visibility and an air temperature of 54 degrees.

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