Fisherman Medevaced Off US West Coast

A fisherman who had reportedly lost consciousness and was suffering from chest pain was medevaced by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter crew 30 miles west of Crescent City, California, Tuesday.

 

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, Oregon, hoisted the man and transferred him to awaiting EMS at Crescent City Airport. A video is available here.

 

USCg Pacific Area command center watchstanders in Alameda, California, received a phone call from the parent company of the 344-foot commercial fishing vessel Alaska Ocean shortly before 5 p.m., requesting a medevac of a 33-year-old crewmember.

 

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 13th District command center in Seattle received the case from Coast Guard Pacific Area and then passed control to Coast Guard Sector North Bend watchstanders, who coordinated with the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac.

 

The aircrew launched at 6:17 p.m., arrived on scene around 7 p.m., hoisted the man and transferred him to awaiting EMS about an hour later.

 

“This response showcases how flexible and responsive the Coast Guard has truly become,” said Wesley Trull, watchstander at Sector North Bend. “Quick and timely lateral and vertical coordination from Coast Guard units located in Alameda, California; Seattle, Washington; and North Bend, Oregon, all went into action to extract a man from a ship 30 miles offshore to save his life when needed.”