Coast Guard conducts second medevac in two days near Cold Bay, Alaska

united states coast guard 

 

 

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 conducts second medevac in two days near Cold Bay, Alaska

 

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, forward deployed with the Coast Guard Cutter John Midgett, medevaced a man from the fishing vessel Ocean Peace approximately 115 miles north of Cold Bay, Alaska, Tuesday.

 

Coast Guard 17th District Command Center watchstanders in Juneau received notification from Discovery Health Force Partners Tuesday morning that a 24-year-old male crewmember was displaying symptoms of appendicitis. Watchstanders briefed the duty flight surgeon and requested that Ocean Peace make way toward Cold Bay.

 

The helicopter crew was still in Cold Bay after transferring a patient Monday. The crew launched from Cold Bay and landed aboard the Cutter John Midgett to refuel. The aircrew then flew to the fishing vessel and hoisted the patient, then landed back aboard the cutter to refuel again before transporting him to Cold Bay. He was placed in the care of an aircrew contracted by Discovery Health for transport to Anchorage.

 

"This is the second case in two days that the crew aboard Cutter John Midgett and the helicopter crew with them responded in the Bering Sea," said Lt. Cmdr. Orion Bloom, command center chief for Tuesday's medevac. "Cutters with helicopters in the Bering Sea are essential due to the vast distances they travel to complete a mission."

 

On-scene conditions at the time of the hoist included 6-foot seas and 12-mph winds.

 

-USCG-