KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 47-year-old man from the fishing vessel Alaska Ocean approximately 50 miles north of Cold Bay Monday.

District 17 command center watchstanders received initial notification at about 9:30 a.m. from Health Force Partners personnel reporting Franz D’Alquen was struck in the head by one of the vessel’s cables and needed medical care.

The Jayhawk helicopter crew was transiting from Cold Bay to Kodiak after it conducted a non-maritime medevac Sunday when the request for the medevac came through. The crew diverted to the Alaska Ocean’s location and safely hoisted the man at about 11:20 a.m. He was transported to Cold Bay Clinic personnel.

A commercial medevac service will take D’Alquen from Cold Bay to Anchorage for further medical care.

The Coast Guard’s rescue helicopter crews routinely train for emergency situations and are ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

“Since we had a rescue helicopter crew in the area, it lessened our response time,” said Lt. Randall Black, Air Station Kodiak operations duty officer. “Due to this quick response time, this man was able to get advanced medical care in an expeditious manner.”

The weather at the time of the incident was overcast skies, southwest winds at 17 mph and calm seas.

The Alaska Ocean is a 376-foot fishing vessel homeported in Seattle.

For more information contact Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen at 907-321-4505.

Source: United States Coast Guard