HSC-25 provides urgent medevac for mariner at sea

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kirsten King | ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (Aug. 6, 2019) Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Nathan Swartz of Elmhurst, Illinois, is lowered to the deck of the CSC Brave to assess a patient and prepare him for movement via litter hoisting during a medical evacuation mission by the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25. HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search-and-rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Erik Kumetz)  

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM

08.07.2019

Courtesy Story

HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON TWO FIVE

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (Aug. 7, 2019) – The Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 responded to a civilian in distress on Aug. 6.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam notified HSC-25 of the distressed mariner aboard CSC Brave, a Chinese-flagged vessel. HSC-25 Search and Rescue, led by Aircraft Commander Lt. Cmdr. Philip Pretzinger, departed Andersen Air Force Base within two hours of the initial call.

“Despite the adverse weather and sea state, the team was able to execute a precision litter hoist from CSC Brave,” said Pretzinger. “Lt. Erik Kumetz and Petty Officer Kyle Bowen performed a harrowing in-flight blood transfusion, ultimately saving the patient’s life.”

The incident was the 18th emergency call to HSC-25 by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam this year and marks 16 recoveries during search and rescue and medical evacuations in 2019.

“HSC-25’s ability to launch our aircraft on a moment’s notice for a SAR or Medevac is astounding,” said Cdr. Frank Loforti, commanding officer, HSC-25. “Just two weeks after rescuing a distressed mariner, the team was once again able to flawlessly execute a rescue under the most demanding of circumstances. Every Sailor should be proud of the lives we are able to save and the support we provide to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”

HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron.

• Date Taken: 08.07.2019
• Date Posted: 08.07.2019 22:12
• Story ID: 334970
• Location: ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GU