JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 44-year-old woman from the 109-foot fishing vessel Tuxedni near Sitka, Monday.
The Jayhawk crew rendezvoused with the Tuxedni in Tebenkof Bay, 67 miles southeast of Sitka, hoisted the woman aboard and flew her to Sitka where she was transferred to local emergency medical service personnel for evaluation and treatment.
Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received a call from Health Force Partners who reported the woman was suffering from severe abdominal distress and needed assistance. The watchstanders consulted the Coast Guard duty flight surgeon, who recommended the medevac, and directed the launch of the Jayhawk crew.
“Our hoist capable helicopters are an ideal resource to respond to emergency medical situations in Southeast Alaska,” said Lt. Matthew Herring, a Coast Guard Jayhawk pilot at Coast Guard Air Station Sitka. “Our crews train regularly in order to safely and efficiently transport the sick and injured to a higher level of care when necessary.”
Weather conditions at the time of the incident were reported as calm winds with overcast skies and periods of rain. The Tuxedni is a Seattle-based fish tender.
