Coast Guard medevacs ill man after 400 mile flight off Oregon

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 12/01/2017 07:43 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Dec. 1, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astoria
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Astoria
Office: (503) 861-6380
After Hours: (206) 391-5864

Coast Guard medevacs ill man after 400 mile flight off Oregon

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River conducts a medevac of a Filipino sailor who fell ill while working aboard the motor vessel Atlas more than 200 miles west of the Columbia River Bar, Dec. 1, 2017. The man was transported safely to Warrenton, Ore., where he was transferred to a Life Flight Network helicopter crew who then flew him to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. U.S. Coast Guard video by Sector Columbia River 6003.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Yelvington, an aviation survival technician from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, discusses patient information with medical personnel from Life Flight Network at the airport in Warrenton, Ore., Dec. 1, 2017. A Coast Guard aircrew flew more than 400 miles round trip to medically evacuate an ill Filipino man who fell ill while working aboard the motor vessel Atlas. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read. Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Yelvington, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Hioe, a aviation maintenance technician, both from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River assist personnel from the Life Flight Network with a medevac patient at the airport in Warrenton, Ore., Dec. 1, 2017. The Life Flight Network flew the patient to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read.  Sector Columbia River conducts long-distance medevac

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

WARRENTON, Ore. — A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 50-year-old man from a bulk carrier 200 miles off the Columbia River entrance, Friday.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River safely hoisted the ill crewman and transported him to sector, where he was transferred to Life Flight Network personnel for transportation to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 13th District Command Center received a request for assistance from the captain of the bulk carrier Atlas, reporting the crewman was exhibiting symptoms of either a heart attack or a stroke.

The duty Coast Guard flight surgeon was briefed, concurred with the need for medevac and requested that the patient be placed on oxygen until the flight crew could arrive.

At the time of the request, the 639-foot Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel was more than 300 miles offshore and en route to Seattle.

Due to concerns with the distance, sector personnel coordinated with Coast Guard 13th District watchstanders to request the assistance of a fixed wing aircraft crew for offshore coverage. A C-27 Spartan aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, California, provided the requested support.

Weather on scene was 22 MPH winds, 15 to 20-foot high seas.

 

-USCG-