Coast Guard, Navy medevac fisherman from vessel 173 miles off Oahu

News Release

April 19, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific Contact: 14th District Public Affairs Office: (808) 535-3230 After Hours: (808) 341-9849

Coast Guard, Navy medevac fisherman from vessel 173 miles off Oahu 

HONOLULU — A 30-year-old Vietnamese fisherman, suffering severe abdominal pain, arrived in good condition to Queens Medical Center in Honolulu Wednesday evening, aboard a Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter. 

“This is a great demonstration of how our military branches work together to successfully complete a mission, said Lt. Nic Lannarone, command duty officer at Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu. “We are proud of all crews and their seamless work to ensure mariners in need reach a higher level of care as quickly as possible.”

Watchstanders at JRCC received a call from the master of the 68-foot commercial fishing vessel Lady of the Sea II at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. The vessel was reportedly 276 miles south of Oahu making 7 knots (8 mph) en route to Oahu. 

JRCC watchstanders requested assistance from the Navy HSM-37 'Easyriders' due to the distance offshore.

The watchstanders briefed the duty flight surgeon and agreed on a medevac. A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point launched to provide top cover and communications while the Navy Seahawk crew launched from Kaneohe Bay.

Coast Guard watchstanders worked with the Navy and the crew of the U.S.-flagged Lady of the Sea II to arrange a Navy surface asset and basket hoist transfer once the vessel was 173 miles south of Oahu.

Weather on scene was reportedly winds of 17 mph with 7-foot seas.

-USCG-