Coast Guard medevacs boy after vessel runs aground near Kotzebue, Alaska 

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 487-5700 After Hours: (907) 654-4112 17th District online newsroom

 

Coast Guard medevacs boy after vessel runs aground near Kotzebue, Alaska 

 

 

KODIAK, Alaska – The Coast Guard medevaced a boy after his vessel ran aground in Deering, approximately 60 miles southwest of Kotzebue, Monday evening.

 

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew arrived on scene and landed near the vessel at 9:40 p.m., embarked the 15-year-old boy, and transported him to Kotzebue to awaiting EMS.

 

Watchstanders from 17th Coast Guard District received the initial report at 7:41 p.m. from North Slope Borough Search and Rescue requesting assistance for a satellite personal tracker alert message for a person in distress who suffered injuries to his hand 60 miles southwest of Kotzebue.

 

The Coast Guard aircrew from Forward Operating Location Kotzebue located the vessel at 9:19 p.m., followed the vessel to shore, landed and transported the boy to Kotzebue to awaiting EMS.

 

“We are grateful that we were able to locate the patient in a timely manner and land safely to medevac him,” said Lt. Lindsay Wheeler, 17th District command duty officer. “The close coordination between our command center staff, the Air Station Kodiak aircrew and North Slope Borough Search and Rescue personnel ensured this mariner was able to obtain a higher level of medical treatment.”

 

The cause of the incident is under investigation. 

-USCG-