KODIAK, Alaska – Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aircrews medevaced a crewman reported to have injured his hand aboard the 580-foot South Korean-flagged bulk carrier, BK Champ, about 30 miles southwest of Adak Tuesday.
Aung Bo Bo Htay, 26, a Burmese national, is an oiler on the vessel and injured his hand in the engine room. The Coast Guard District 17 command center watchstanders received a phone call from a representative of BK Champ Monday morning reporting the injury and requesting a medevac.
The Coast Guard launched two Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews Monday evening to pre-stage in Dutch Harbor. While en route to Dutch Harbor, the helicopter crews landed in Cold Bay to rest overnight. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft launched at 8 a.m. Tuesday with a third helicopter crew.
One helicopter crew successfully hoisted Htay and transferred to emergency medical services in Adak about 4:55 p.m. LifeMed Alaska Air is transporting the man to Anchorage for further treatment.
Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak utilized three MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews and one HC-130 Hercules aircrew and flew over 1,800 miles to conduct this long-range medevac.
The weather at the time of the medevac was mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers, an air temperature in the lower 50's and a west wind of 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph.