The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(KODIAK, Alaska) — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew forward deployed to Cold Bay, Alaska medevaced a man Thursday from the 655-foot motor vessel Delsa 130 miles southeast from Cold Bay.
The Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the man at 10:45 p.m, and safely transported him to Cold Bay where he was transferred to commercial medical services. He was further transported to Anchorage, Alaska for further medical care.
Coast Guard Communications Detachment Kodiak watch standers received a call from the captain of Delsa at 7:30 p.m. stating that a 42-year-old crewman fell 20 feet from scaffolding and has possible back and hip injuries.
The COMDET watch standers notified District 17 command center watch standers who then contacted the on-call District 17 flight surgeon. The flight surgeon directed the launch of the Jayhawk helicopter and crew deployed to Cold Bay to medevac the man.
Once the helicopter and crew arrived to the scene, Chief Petty Officer Matt Laub, an aviation survival technician, and a rescue litter were lowered to the top deck of Delsa. Laub was escorted by Delsa's crew to a narrow staircase where it led to the cargo hold. Laub stabilized the man on the rescue litter then proceeded to direct the 150-foot hoist of the man from the cargo hold to the helicopter.
“This was a complex rescue due to the location of the man and the location of the Delsa's mast and crane," said Laub. “Due to our training and the superb coordination between the watch standers, the crew of the Delsa and this air crew, we were able to get this man to a higher level of medical care.”
Weather at the scene of the medevac was clear skies, 11-mph winds and 7-foot seas.
