Coast Guard searching for unconfirmed persons in the water east of Whittier, Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska​ — The Coast Guard is searching Monday for unconfirmed persons in the water after a small boat with nobody aboard was found adrift east of Whittier.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Anchorage are trying to track down the owner of a 10-foot, blue and gray Zodiak that was found adrift in Passage Canal containing cat food, presumably for shrimp bait, along with other fishing gear, line and oars.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak, a response boat crew from Station Valdez and an Auxiliary crew out of Whittier to search for potential persons in the water associated with the boat.

No distress has been reported to the Coast Guard.

"We're responding as though there is a person or people in the water who fell out of this boat and need our help," said Mike McNeil, command duty officer at Sector Anchorage. "Anyone with information about this boat, please contact the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center immediately at 907-428-4100."

The boat does not have a motor and there are no identifying numbers on the hull.

It was first reported to the Coast Guard at approximately 7:30 a.m.

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Coast Guard demonstrates capability of local hospital rooftop helicopter pad

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Coast Guard helicopter aircrew performed the first landing at one of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s new helicopter landing pads on April 10, 2019.

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The hospital recently built two new rooftop helicopter landing pads in order to quickly move patients to needed care.

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A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew performed the first landing on the larger of the two landing pads.

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The Coast Guard aircrew and hospital personnel participated in the training to practice safely transferring patients from the aircraft to the emergency department.

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“The new pad will help us streamline patient care from the Coast Guard team to the Sentara team,"​said Denise Baylous, the program manager of the Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

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At 269 feet off the ground, the rooftop pad makes the transfer of patients safer since it is out of the way of any obstacles.

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The hospital anticipates that the pad designed to accommodate military helicopters will be ready for full operation in May 2019.

Coast Guard rescues 3 adults, 12-year-old boy after boat sinks​

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescues three men and a 12-year-old boy from the Gulf of Mexico 3 miles west of Bayport, Florida, Saturday, March 30, 2019. The helicopter crew located the boaters clinging to life jackets after their boat flipped over and sank. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

CLEARWATER, Fla.—The Coast Guard rescued three men and a 12-year old boy after their boat sank Sunday 3 miles west of Bayport.

Rescued were Virginia Beach, Virginia, native David Johnson, 25, and Weeki Wachee, Florida, natives Kenneth Oakleaf, 28, Matt Fried, 41, and Fried's 12-year-old son.

At 5:41 a.m. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a 911 transfer call from Hernando County dispatch reporting three people and a child were in the water clinging to life jackets. The boaters stated they were fishing when Oakleaf's 14-foot boat sank.​

An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched, arrived on scene at 7:11 a.m. and hoisted the boaters out of the water. The men and boy were transported to the air station and evaluated by Sunstar paramedics. There were no reported injuries.

Johnson, stated the boat sank because all the men moved to one side of the boat and the boat flipped. He said thankfully the life jackets were placed in an easily accessible area, so they quickly floated to the top. Recalling the rescue, Johnson was simple, "I just want to say thank you."

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter returns to Air Station Clearwater, Florida, after rescuing three men and a 12-year-old boy, Saturday, March 30, 2019. The men and boy were fishing 3 miles west of Bayport when their 14-foot boat sank. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

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Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel Kari Marie 201 miles north of St. Paul, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward-deployed to St. Paul, approaches the fishing vessel Kari Marie to medevac a man from it, approximately 201 miles north of St. Paul, Alaska, Feb. 18, 2019. Forward-operating locations follow the fishing fleet throughout the year to reduce response times for search and rescue cases when the call comes in. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward-deployed to St. Paul, medevaced a man from the fishing vessel Kari Marie approximately 201 miles north of St. Paul, Alaska, Monday.​

District 17 Command Center watchstanders received notification from the fishing vessel Pacific Mariner. They were relaying communications for the fishing vessel Kari Marie for a crew member that was reported to have suffered a compound fracture while aboard the vessel.

District personnel directed the launch of a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Forward-Operating Location St. Paul to conduct the medevac. They also diverted an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew to provide communication coverage for the case.​

The man was transported to local emergency medical services personnel in St. Paul and was reported to have been in stable condition.

“Being forward-deployed in St. Paul allowed us to significantly reduce the response time to assist this mariner,” said Lt. Kevin Riley, the aircraft commander for this case.“We hope he makes a rapid and full recovery.”

On-scene weather was 4-foot seas, overcast skies, and an air temperature of 34 degrees with calm winds.​

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Coast Guard rescues 3 mariners beset by weather 30 miles west of Oceanside

A Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew rescues a 25-year-old- man suffering from dehydration and an 80-year-old man suffering from a head injury and complications from diabetes from a disabled sailing vessel beset by weather approximately 30 miles west of Oceanside, California, Dec. 6, 2018. A 54-year-old man remained with the vessel which was towed by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter halibut to Avalon Harbor. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Fireman Taylor Bacon and Coast Guard Sector San Diego/released).

SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard rescued 3 mariners beset by weather approximately 30 miles west of Oceanside, Thursday.

Mariners aboard the 35-foot sailing vessel, Julia B Lewis, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego's Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders at approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday reporting that the boat was disabled with three people aboard, two of which were seasick and another with a head injury.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut arrived on scene to assist at approximately 8:15 p.m.

Halibut’s crew attempted to launch their small boat crew to attempt an at-sea passenger transfer though they were unsuccessful due to weather conditions and sea state.

The crew remained on scene overnight to attempt to tow the vessel to a safe harbor once the weather permitted.

At approximately 7:45 a.m. Thursday, the vessel’s crew reported that an 80-year-old man suffering from a head injury was also exhibiting symptoms of complications from diabetes and a 25-year-old man was exhibiting symptoms of dehydration.

A Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched to assist at approximately 8:15 a.m.

Once on scene, the Jayhawk crew lowered a rescue swimmer to provide care and assist the patients before hoisting them into the helicopter.

The crew returned with the two patients to Sector San Diego shortly before noon where awaiting emergency medical services personnel took over care of the patients and transferred them to Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego.

Both were reported to be in stable condition.

The remaining mariner, a 54-year-old man, remained with the sailing vessel.

Halibut’s crew is scheduled to tow the vessel to Avalon Harbor.

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Coast Guard rescues surfer near Willapa Bay, Washington

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Trevor ©USCG (archive)

SEATTLE -- A Coast Guard aircrew rescued a 40-year-old male who had become caught in strong currents while surfing near Willapa Bay, Saturday afternoon.

A Coast Guard Sector Columbia River aircrew, aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, safely recovered and transported the surfer to shore, where Emergency Medical Service personnel were waiting.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Command Center watchstanders received a call from Pacific County 911 personnel requesting rescue assistance at approximately 2 p.m.

Three surfers had been in the water when one was swept away by strong currents and went missing for approximately 30 minutes.

Two of the surfers made it back to shore but could not locate their friend. An acquaintance of the surfers made the emergency call to Pacific County.

Sector watchstanders launched the aircrew and a Station Grays Harbor boat crew aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat.

The helicopter crew was able to locate the individual in the water with help from locals on shore, who managed to keep the surfer in view until the rescue crew arrived.

The helicopter crew recovered the surfer at 3:15 p.m., landed the helo on the beach and transported him to medical personnel for further assistance.

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Coast Guard assists ASTs to locate overdue hiker on Inian Island, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk (helicopter shot from Kodiak) ©USCG (archive)

KODIAK- A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew located an overdue, 21-year-old female hiker on Inian Island, Alaska, Tuesday. 

The Jayhawk aircrew safely located the woman at approximately 11:43 p.m. and transported her to Sitka for further care. She was reported to be mildly hypothermic and disoriented, but otherwise in good condition. 

Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received an agency assist request from the Alaska State Troopers to search for the missing female hiker. She was reported to have been last seen wearing hiking boots, gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt. She departed her cabin located in Hobbit Hole for a thirty minute to one-hour hike with no means of communication. AST’s began a ground search Tuesday at approximately 10:00 a.m.. District 17 Command Center granted the Sector Juneau request and launched an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to search with forward-looking infrared radar technology to conduct an extended shoreline search.

"This case had a great outcome and it serves as a recurring reminder how easy it is for people to get disoriented in Southeast Alaska's rugged environment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Condon, an Air Station Sitka Aircraft Commander on the case. “Even a thirty minute hike can turn into an eight hour ordeal. When we venture outside in Southeast Alaska, we should be prepared for the elements, be informed about our surroundings, and have a way to communicate if something unexpected happens."

Weather on scene was clear with no wind in the area, and an air temperature ranging from 37 to 44 degrees.

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Coast Guard aircrew medevacs NOAA observer from vessel off Washington Coast

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

WARRENTON, Ore. — A Coast Guard aircrew medically evacuated an ill man off a factory trawler underway 30 miles off the Washington Coast, Friday Night.

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector Columbia River safely hoisted the 24-year-old man and flew him to awaiting emergency medical services, which transported him to Columbia Medical Hospital for further care.

Watchstanders at the sector’s command center, received the initial call for support at 9:02 p.m., from the operators of the 252-foot factory trawler American Triumph.

The man, who was acting as an observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was reportedly suffering from severe abdominal pain. After briefing the vessel operators with the duty flight surgeon, the decision was made to medevac the man.

“For mariners, an illness at sea can quickly become life threatening,” said Lt. j. g. Dave Strojny, the co-pilot for this mission. “Thankfully, we were able to get out there and expeditiously hoist the individual and deliver him to a higher level of medical care.”

The Coast Guard aircrew launched at 10:14 p.m. and was on scene at 10:37 and completed the hoist at 10:58 p.m.

The man’s condition is unknown at this time.

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Coast Guard medevacs man on fishing boat in Pamlico Sound, NC

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, medevacs a man who was reportedly suffering from heart problems on a fishing boat in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, Oct. 30, 2018. The man was taken off of the fishing boat and put on a Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Hatteras Inlet before being hoisted up to avoid the obstructions created by the rigging equipment.
(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Elizabeth City)

WILMINGTON — The Coast Guard medevaced a 63-year-old man who was reportedly showing symptoms of a heart attack on the fishing boat Papa’s Girl, in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, Tuesday evening.

A crewmember aboard the fishing boat contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command center at 5:30 p.m., via VHF-FM radio channel 16 and notified them of the man's condition. A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Hatteras Inlet and an aircrew aboard a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist.

The man was transferred to the 47-foot Motor Life Boat due to the fishing gear obstructions aboard Papas Girl.

Once the man was on the boat, the aircrew conducted a safe hoist and transported him to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

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Coast Guard responds to vessel collision with 29 people aboard near California - Mexico maritime border

Coast Guardsmen and emergency medical services personnel assist a person who was injured in a vessel collision and medevaced to Sector San Diego Oct. 26, 2018. In all, 18 people were rescued by the Coast Guard from the motor vessel Prowler. Coast Guard photo by Fireman Taylor Bacon.

SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard medevaced an injured person via helicopter and rescued 17 passengers, after a vessel collision near the maritime boundary line.

The crew of the 332-foot yacht, Attessa IV, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego's Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders at approximately 7:50 p.m. reporting a collision with the 65-foot sportfisher, Prowler, approximately nine miles offshore of Imperial Beach that resulted in extensive damage to the starboard quarter of the sportfisher and multiple injuries.

A Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station San Diego 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew were dispatched to respond. The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter was also diverted to assist.

Crews arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 p.m. The Jayhawk crew hoisted a critically injured passenger and returned to Sector San Diego where awaiting EMS took the man toUC San Diego Medical Center – Hillcrest in critical condition.

The RB-M crew transferred 17 passengers, 2 reporting injuries, from the Prowler and took them to Sector San Diego.

The remaining ten passengers were transferred to the Attessa IV and are scheduled to return to San Diego, while the captain remained aboard the Prowler.

The Sea Otter remained on-scene with the Prowler awaiting commercial salvage.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Coast Guardsmen from Station San Diego and Sector San Diego and emergency medical services personnel assist people who were involved in a vessel collision and transported by the Coast Guard to Sector San Diego Oct. 26, 2018. In all, 18 people were rescued by the Coast Guard from the motor vessel Prowler.

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Coast Guard medevacs 2, good Sam rescues 13, search for 3 continues

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew transfers two patients to emergency medical services personnel at Coast Guard Sector San Diego Oct. 20, 2018. The patients were injured when the boat they were aboard caught fire 28 miles south of Point Loma. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley/released)

Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley

SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans rescued 15 people and continue to search for three more after a fishing vessel caught fire 28 miles south of Point Loma Saturday night.

The crew of the 42-foot fishing vessel Time Machine contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego’s Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders around 9:35 p.m. to report seeing a nearby fishing boat on fire and multiple people in the water.

The Coast Guard diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Haddock, launched a Coast Guard Station San Diego 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew and dispatched a Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew while Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR) also deployed two defender class boats to assist.

The crew aboard the motor vessel Time Machine pulled 15 people from the water, including two who needed urgent medical attention. The survivors aboard the fishing vessel Time Machine reported that three people were still missing.

The Coast Guard Sector San Diego Jayhawk crew hoisted the two survivors who needed urgent medical attention into the helicopter and transported them to Sector San Diego where they were met by emergency medical services personnel and taken to UC San Diego Health.

The remaining 13 survivors aboard the fishing vessel Time Machine were transferred to a SEMAR vessel and taken to Ensenada, Mexico.

SEMAR Rescue Coordination Center has assumed search mission coordinator.

A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Haddock crew are actively searching for the three additional people.

Navy helicopter crews from the USS John C. Stennis and the USS Stockdale assisted in the search.

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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 medevacs man off cruise ship over 180 miles off Pacific Northwest coast

MH-60 Jayhawk. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Wills (archive).

ASTORIA, Ore. — A Coast Guard helicopter crew medically evacuated a 67-year-old man off a cruise ship over 180 miles off the Columbia River entrance.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River transferred the man to an air ambulance service crew at the Astoria Airport.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard 13th District command center received a medevac request at around 2 p.m. from the crew of the Explorer of the Seas as the passenger was showing symptoms of a diabetic emergency and potential stroke. The Jayhawk aircrew launched in response, as well as a C-27 Spartan airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., who provided long-range communications coverage.

Once safe ashore around 6:50 p.m., the passenger was transferred to the air ambulance service crew, who then transported him to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland for further care.

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Coast Guard hoists 5 distressed mariners near Tununak, Alaska

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, hoists one of five distressed mariners off the coast of Tununak, Alaska, Sept. 29, 2018. All five people that were eventually hoisted and brought to safety were in a 22-foot boat that lost power and began taking on water. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued five people stranded on a boat without power off the Alaskan coast near Tununak, Saturday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted all five people and brought them to Tununak.

Watchstanders in the 17th District command center in Juneau received notification from Alaska State Troopers Friday at about 10:30 p.m. that the 22-foot boat was adrift without power, taking on water and dragging anchor approximately 4 miles off Tununak. The people on the skiff had a VHF radio that was running out of batteries.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners of the need for help, and diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro. The Canadian research vessel Frosti answered the UMIB and headed toward the disabled vessel to assist.

An Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircrew launched and made VHF radio contact with family members of the distressed party near Tununak. The family members guided the pilots to the location of the distressed vessel and got them in radio range of the people aboard.

The Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak helicopter crew launched from Kodiak and arrived on scene at about 7:45 a.m. Saturday before hoisting all five people to the helicopter.

“Because the family of these folks had VHF radios, and because they had a radio aboard as well, we were better able to locate them and understand their situation,” said Lt. Casey Corpe, C-130 Hercules co-pilot for the case. “Though they did not have a life jacket for every person on the boat, I’m sure that next time they go out they will. Alaskan water temperatures are unforgiving.

If something goes wrong on the water, a life jacket often means the difference between life and death.”

Conditions when the Coast Guard arrived on scene were 40 mph winds, 6-foot seas, 10-mile visibility, and 49 degree air and water temperatures.

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Coast Guard, others continue search for potential crash survivors near Lituya Bay, Alaska

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG (archive)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard and others are continuing the search Saturday for three potential survivors of a helicopter crash that occurred Friday near Lituya Bay.

The helicopter crashed in the water approximately 100 yards from the shoreline of a beach about 3 miles east of Lituya Bay.The Coast Guard located sections of the crashed helicopter’s fuselage, engine, rotor head, and front and rear seats washed up on the beach today but not any sign of the passengers.

Two handlers with canines from the Southeast Alaska Dogs for Ground Search were brought in via Coast Guard helicopter but were not able to locate any sign of the helicopter’s passengers.

A C-130 aircraft crew with the 211th Rescue Squadron for Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage is on scene searching.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco out of Ketchikan is searching the water in the vicinity of the crash, and will continue searching overnight.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew out of Air Station Sitka is scheduled to begin searching at first light Sunday.

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