Coast Guard conducts medevac from fishing vessel off Oahu on eve of Pearl Harbor 75th

HONOLULU , HI, UNITED STATES

12.03.2016

Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir                  

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard medevaced the master of the fishing vessel 70-foot Lady J3 about 41 miles north of Oahu Saturday morning.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point safely medevaced the 36-year-old man to Queens Medical Center in Honolulu for treatment. He was reportedly suffering from swelling to his lower extremities and was unable to stand.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Joint Rescue Communications Center Honolulu received a request for the medevac from the NOAA Fisheries observer aboard the Lady J3 mid-morning Friday. The vessel was 176 miles north of Kauai at the time, heading toward Oahu and maintained a six-hour communications schedule with Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders.

By the evening the master’s condition had deteriorated and he was having trouble breathing. At the recommendation of the Coast Guard flight surgeon the vessel continued to make best course and speed toward Oahu to close the distance and bring them into range of the Coast Guard Dolphin crew. The medevac was conducted at first light to bring the master to a higher level of medical care.

“This case illustrates the importance of the hoist capable helicopters we regularly use to provide lifesaving assistance to mariners around the nation,” said Lt. Matt Chase, a pilot with Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. “This capability was actually born out of the events of Dec. 7th and Pearl Harbor. Coast Guard Lt. Frank Erickson served in Hawaii that day and after. He witnessed the death of thousands of sailors who couldn’t safely be reached and rescued. He went on to work with Igor Sikorsky to build an experimental hoist capable helicopter and was the Coast Guard’s first helicopter pilot. His intuition and ingenuity completely redefined the way the Coast Guard performs search and rescue and provided for this mariner’s rescue today.”

Weather conditions at the time of the hoist were reportedly 12 mph winds with seas to 7 feet, haze and showers.

Editors note: Media interested in interviewing Lt. Matthew Chase, Sunday at Air Station Barbers Point may contact Lt. Scott Carr, Coast Guard at 808-291-3394. Chase will be available to discuss Erickson, Coast Guard aviation as related to the events of Pearl Harbor and the service’s current missions in Hawaii and the Pacific.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2016
• Date Posted: 12.03.2016 22:46
• Story ID: 216333
• Location: HONOLULU , HI, US