Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water in Nushagak Bay, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews searched in approximately 650 square miles a fishing man from the Pail Rider vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Kodiak (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water in Nushagak Bay, Monday.

Two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and a C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak searched approximately 650 square miles over the course of more than ten hours for a male crew member from the commercial fishing vessel Pail Rider who went overboard at approximately 3 a.m.

The search was suspended at approximately 4 p.m.

"Despite our very best effort today along with about 10 fishing boat crews who helped us search, we were not able to locate the man who went overboard this morning,"​ said Ray Dwyer, Coast Guard 17th District command duty officer for the case. “After an exhaustive effort, the difficult decision was made to suspend.”

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Coast Guard, Alaska Air National Guard, coordinate efforts, battle elements to rescue two stranded hunters from Punuk Islands, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew sits on the ground in Nome after recovering two stranded hunters from the Punuk Islands, near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, Nov. 29, 2018. The hunters hailed a Ravn Alaska Aircraft as it flies overhead using a VHF-FM radio to report their distress and request a rescue. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Daniel Beshoar.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescued two stranded hunters on the Punuk Islands, east of St. Lawrence Island, 664 miles Northwest of Kodiak, Alaska, Thursday.

After the aircrew’s roughly 700-mile transit, the men were taken to Nome for further care. One of the men was reported to have been ill for several days, and they had very limited communication devices on hand.

Wednesday, District 17 Command Center watchstanders and RCC Anchorage received an agency assist request from the Alaska State Troopers for two Savoonga male hunters reported to have been stranded after transiting to the Punuk Islands by small boat on Nov. 21. Using a VHF-FM handheld radio, the men were able to hail a Ravn Alaska Aircraft flying overhead and relayed that they were in distress. The men reported that their boat motor was inoperative, therefore leaving them with no means of transportation back to their snow machine on St. Lawrence Island. Ravn Alaska notified RCC Anchorage, who then deployed the 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen via a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130 to assess the condition of the men, drop survival gear to them and provide medical assistance as needed.

District 17 Command Center assumed mission control and directed the launch of an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, along with the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter embarked, to aid in the rescue.

After transiting approximately 1,000 miles total, the MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew found both men and transported them both to Nome for further assistance.

“After flying nearly 700 miles across the state of Alaska through snow squalls and freezing fog, we’ve never seen a happier embrace than from that of the stranded hunters greeting their rescuers,” said Lt. Daniel Beshoar, an Air Station Kodiak pilot on the case. “These men were fortunate to have a working radio-it effectively saved their lives.”

Weather on scene was freezing spray, 14-foot seas, gale-force winds and blowing snow.

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Three Coast Guard aircrews transit more than 1,200 miles to medevac man from fishing vessel west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Photo by U.S. Coast Guard District 17

DUTCH HARBOR, AK, UNITED STATES

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew transits alongside an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew during a long-range medevac near Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Aug. 6, 2018. Two Jayhawk aircrews were utilized to conduct the long-range medevac. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Jeff Mistrick.

Photo by U.S. Coast Guard District 17

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew swaps with another Jayhawk aircrew in Cold Bay, Alaska, to conduct a long-range medevac 190 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Aug. 6, 2018. An HC-130 Hercules aircrew assisted by providing a communications platform and transporting the extra Jayhawk aircrew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Jeff Mistrick.

KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a man from the 116-foot commercial fishing vessel Patricia Lee 190 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, early Tuesday morning.

The helicopter crew safely transported the 27-year-old man from the fishing vessel Patricia Lee to awaiting air ambulance personnel in Dutch Harbor for further care. The man was reported to have been in stable condition.

District 17 command center watchstanders received a report Monday evening from the fishing vessel’s master that a crewman had been hit in the head by a crab pot. Due to the man’s injuries, a Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended a medevac. District 17 command center directed the launch of two Air Station Kodiak MH-60 aircrews, a Coast Guard corpsman and an HC-130 Hercules aircrew.

Due to the distance of the Patricia Lee’s position from Kodiak, two Jayhawk aircrews had to be utilized. The first Jayhawk aircrew transited from Kodiak to Cold Bay, then the second Jayhawk aircrew went from Cold Bay to the Patricia Lee to conduct the medevac. The Hercules aircrew provided transportation of the second Jayhawk aircrew and acted as a communications platform for the Jayhawk during the medevac.

“Alaska presents a unique set of difficulties, one primarily being the remote locations of the cases,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Trevor Frommherz. “It makes conducting medevacs hundreds of miles off shore a coordinated team effort, and we are fortunate to have such dynamic crews ready to work together and assist at a moment’s notice.”

The aircrews transited more than 1,200 miles from Kodiak and spent more than 17 hours conducting the medevac.

Weather on scene was 5-foot seas and 23 mph winds.

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Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel near Cordova, Alaska

Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen

CORDOVA, AK, UNITED STATES

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew medevaced a 51-year-old man from the fishing vessel Devotion 34 miles southwest of Cordova, Alaska, Aug. 4, 2018. The man reportedly sustained a head injury then subsequently fell and needed a medevac to receive higher level medical care. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew medevaced a man from the fishing vessel Devotion 34 miles southwest of Cordova, Alaska, Saturday.

To better facilitate the hoist, a 51-year-old man from the Devotion was transferred to a nearby tug. The Jayhawk's aircrew safely hoisted the man and transported him to Cordova, where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a relay call from the charter vessel Dan Ryan crew requesting a medevac for the man aboard the Devotion. It was reported the man sustained a head injury and subsequently fell. Sector Anchorage watchstanders consulted a Coast Guard duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac.

"When we arrived to the scene, the fishing vessel was tied up to an offshore supply vessel, which made for a unique hoist," said Lt. Joe Chevalier, a Jayhawk pilot during the medevac. "Through the coordination of the duty flight surgeon, Sector Anchorage watchstanders and the Devotion crew, we were able to get the man to higher level care quickly."

Weather on scene was 15 mph winds, 2-foot seas, rain showers with a half-mile visibility.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

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Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak medevacs man from FV Nordic Cross

Video by U.S. Coast Guard District 17

KODIAK, AK, UNITED STATES

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew hoists a 47-year-old man from the fishing vessel Nordic Cross 20-miles north of Kodiak, Alaska, July 25, 2018. The man sustained a leg injury on the Nordic Cross and needed immediate medical care. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak member, Base Kodiak fire department personnel and City of Kodiak emergency medical personnel transfer a 47-year-old man to an awaiting ambulance at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a male crewmember from a fishing vessel in Duck Bay, near Kodiak, Alaska, Wednesday.

The Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the crewmember from the fishing vessel Nordic Cross and transported him to Kodiak where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received notification from the crew of the Nordic Cross, who reported a 47-year-old crewman was suffering from a leg injury. Watchstanders requested the launch of the Jayhawk crew for an immediate medevac.

"The Nordic Cross crew did a great job of clearing their fishing gear from the deck so we could conduct a safe basket hoist," said Lt. Joseph Chevalier, aircraft commander of the case. "With that and the adaptability and coordination of the rescue swimmer and health services technician in the Jayhawk's cabin, we were able to get this man to emergency care quickly and efficiently."

Weather on scene was reported as 5-mph winds and 2-ft seas.

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Coast Guard helicopter crew medevacs tug crewman from Hinchinbrook Island, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk, Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen, USCG

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a male crew member Wednesday from a tug vessel near Hinchinbrook Island.

The Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the crewman from the tug Sea Voyager and transported him to Anchorage for further medical care.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received notification from the crew of the Sea Voyager, who reported one of their crewmen was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. An emergency medical technician aboard the Sea Voyager administered medication as directed by his medical control. A flight surgeon for the 17th Coast Guard District recommended a medevac for the crewman within four hours.

“Quick notification by the crew of the Sea Voyager was critical for this medevac,” said Petty Officer 1^st Class David Parks, a Sector Anchorage watchstander. “The prompt action and medical care by the EMT aboard the Sea Voyager aided our efforts to help the crewman get immediate medical attention.”

Weather on scene was approximately 12-mph winds and 3-foot seas.

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Coast Guard cutter and helicopter crews medevac a man near Posliedni Point in Afognak Bay, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon medevaced a man from his anchored vessel near Posliedni Point in Afognak Bay, Alaska, Sunday morning.

The Naushon crew launched their small boat and took the 65-year-old man and his wife on board the cutter. The Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the man from the Naushon and transported him to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Kodiak, Alaska. The Naushon crew transported the man’s wife to Kodiak.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received notification from the man and his wife who reported that he was suffering symptoms of a heart attack. A Sector Anchorage search and rescue mission coordinator determined a medevac was necessary, and Sector Anchorage watchstanders directed the diversion of the Naushon crew and launch of an Air Station Kodiak helicopter crew.

“With unreliable communications between the command center and the couple and the severity of the man’s condition, we knew we needed to get on scene as quickly as possible,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Lindsey Helmbrecht, a Sector Anchorage watchstander. “The Naushon crew was patrolling in the area and was able to take the couple on board and provide assistance while awaiting the Jayhawk crew to complete the medevac.”

Weather at the time of the hoist was 4mph winds with calm seas.

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Coast Guard helicopter crew medevacs 13yo from Chenega, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG

ANCHORAGE, Alaska— A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward deployed to Cordova, medevaced a 13-year-old male from Chenega, Alaska, Saturday.

The Jayhawk helicopter crew transported the 13-year-old to Anchorage and transferred him to awaiting medical personnel.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received notification from the crew of the Golden Pacific, a 58-foot fishing vessel, who reported that the teen was suffering symptoms of a seizure 30 minutes after falling 18 feet. An EMT on board the Golden Pacific assessed the teen and requested higher care. A flight surgeon for the 17th Coast Guard District agreed and recommended a medevac. Sector Anchorage watchstanders directed the launch of a Cordova helicopter crew and diverted the Golden Pacific crew to Chenega.

“Coordination with the crew of the Golden Pacific was essential in this case,” said Petty Officer 2^nd Class Lindsey Helmbrecht, a Sector Anchorage watchstander. “The assessment from the on board EMT provided us with critical information and the cooperation of the crew in diverting the vessel to Chenega allowed us to respond quickly to get the teen to necessary medical care.”

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