Coast Guard medevacs man from cruise ship south of Sitka

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 428-4140 After Hours: (907) 227-9248 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard medevacs man from cruise ship south of Sitka

 

SITKA, Alaska — The Coast Guard medevaced a man suffering medical complications from a cruise ship south of Sitka, Tuesday.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka hoisted the 69-year-old man from the cruise ship Regatta and brought him to an awaiting Sitka Fire and Rescue crew in Sitka.

Watchstanders in the Sector Juneau command center received the medevac request from the cruise ship at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The ship was about 50 miles south of Sitka bound for Victoria, British Columbia, at the time of the request, but turned around to meet the aircrew closer to Sitka.

"The crew aboard this ship was very skilled and cooperative in helping us prepare this man for a hoist," said Lt. Kellen Browne, co-pilot for the case. "Thanks to their help we were able to execute this mission seamlessly, and bring this man to the care he needed back in Sitka."

Weather at the time of the hoist included 6-foot seas and winds up to 20 mph.

 

-USCG-