JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew medevaced a mariner experiencing abdominal complications from the fishing vessel U.S. Intrepid 30 miles south of Cold Bay Sunday.
The helicopter crew safely hoisted the 19-year-old man and transported him to Cold Bay, where an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew landed to transfer him to a higher level of care in Kodiak.
Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received the medevac request from the fishing vessel’s health service agency, and the on-call duty flight surgeon concurred with the need for an immediate medevac.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, currently attached to the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, was in the area when the medevac request occurred. Command center watchstanders coordinated the launch of both aircrews.
“The helicopter crew just happened to be in the Cold Bay area as part of our constant Bering Sea Patrol mission,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Daugherty, a 17th District command center watchstander. “We maintain the watch on the Bering Sea and surrounding areas to mitigate the dangers of a harsh environment and sparse infrastructure.”
Weather on scene was reported as 35 mph winds with 5-foot swells.
