The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 28-year-old man, who was suffering from appendicitis-like symptoms, from the 751-foot bulk carrier TW Manila, 125 miles south of Dutch Harbor, Monday.
The Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the man and transported him to Dutch Harbor where he was met by commercial emergency medical services for further transport to advanced medical care.
Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received the request for medevac from the master of the TW Manila, which was 450 miles south of Dutch Harbor at the time, Sunday. The ship’s master reported his crewmember was suffering from abdominal distress and needed medical assistance.
The watchstanders directed launch of an Air Station Kodiak Jayhawk crew as well as an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and an Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin crew, which was deployed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett in the Bering Sea, to support the medevac request. The TW Manila was also directed to steer towards Dutch Harbor in order to get within helicopter range to conduct the hoist.
“This case illustrates the training and professionalism of our Coast Guard members,” said Lt. j.g. Theodore Borny a search and rescue controller with the Coast Guard 17th District Command Center. “The expert planning and coordination of our crewmembers were key in conducting this long-range medevac and getting this individual to the medical care he needed.”
Weather at the time of the hoist was reported as 40-mph winds and 15 to 20-foot seas.
The TW Manila is a Liberian flagged vessel and was en route to Mexico.
[mappress] Press Release, May 6, 2014; Image: Wikimedia