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WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. - Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) Search and Rescue (SAR) rescued a 41-year-old male climber who fell from a cliff at the Colchuck Lake area in the Cascade Mountain Range June 15.
SAR responded to the call after the Chelan County Sheriff's Department could not extract the patient due to the terrain.
“It was a tough zone to go into because normally we like to get the crewman right on top of them,” said Lt. Erin Hittle, from Nyssa, Oregon. “It was a sheer face so we had to be out a little bit.”
SAR’s pilot expressed her happiness with the aircrew’s control on approaching the patient.
“These guys were great and very clear on the plan making sure we were all on the same page,” said Hittle. “Doing it as safely, effectively and quickly as we possibly could but not endangering us as well.”
SAR knows their training is the key to being successful on these rescue operations.
“We’re constantly going out every day and trying to challenge ourselves in training,” said Naval Air Crewman Helicopter 2nd Class Adam Trump, from Palm Harbor, Florida. “That’s a direct correlation to what we’re actually seeing in the field when we do get called on a lot of these rescues.”
SAR understands the importance of their role in the area.
“We do this job so we can make a direct impact,” said Hittle. “At the end of the day though, if we get to go out or anybody else does, it’s really just about the life that’s saved.”
Crewmembers notice the effect their arrival has on patients.
“They hear the rotor blades and you can definitely tell they’re happy to see us,” said Trump. “It’s not really something that hits you in the moment because training does take over.”
SAR crewmembers appreciate what they do and why they do it.
“You’re there to do your job but it’s a good feeling after you execute a rescue and you come back and everyone’s safe on deck, the patient’s safe and you went out and did your job that day,” said Trump.
The patient suffered numerous injuries and was taken to Harbor Medical Center where he is expected to make a full recovery.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2015 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 166962 |
| Location: | OAK HARBOR, WA, US |
| Hometown: | NYSSA, OR, US |
| Hometown: | PALM HARBOR, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, NASWI SAR rescues injured climber, by PO3 Caleb Cooper, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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