Coast Guard medevacs fisherman near Cold Bay, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew medevaced a man from the 252-foot fishing vessel Kodiak Enterprise approximately 40 miles north of Cold Bay, Alaska, Friday afternoon.

The rescue helicopter crew transported the 55-year-old fisherman to Cold Bay and were met by LifeMed Alaska personnel who transferred the patient to Anchorage for further medical care.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard 17th District in Juneau received notification from Health Force Partners requesting a medevac for a crewmember who was reportedly suffering from an abdominal medical condition.  The duty flight surgeon recommended the medevac and the helicopter crew was dispatched from Dutch Harbor.

“Utilizing the helicopter aboard the Waesche during their Alaska Patrol ensured a quick response to this mariner who was in need of medical attention while working aboard a ship in the Bering sea,” said Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Ayd, 17th District command duty officer. “Forward deploying our helicopters and cutters can eliminate hours of flight time transiting from Kodiak to maritime emergencies in Western Alaska.”

Weather on scene during the time of the medevac was reported as 15-mph winds with 3-foot seas and 10 miles of visibility.

-USCG-