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    Alaska Air Guardsmen rescue injured skier at Snowbird Hut

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

    03.04.2019

    Story by Capt. David Bedard 

    Alaska National Guard   

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued an injured skier March 4 at Snowbird Hut north of Wasilla.

    According to Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Gailanne Paculba, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the mission was opened in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.

    An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron launched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at about 3:30 p.m. Aboard the helicopter were two pararescuemen who are both highly trained personnel specializing in rescue operations.

    After receiving a report of the injured skier, the AKRCC tasked the Guardsmen to respond. The pararescuemen assessed the skier and packaged him for hoist by Pave Hawk.

    The HH-60G transported the skier to the Providence Alaska Medical Center where the pararescuemen handed him off to hospital staff at about 5:30 p.m.

    Paculba credited a member of the skier’s party for having and properly using a GPS device with satellite communication capabilities to aid rescue efforts, which saved valuable time and enabled a quick rescue operation.

    For this mission, the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.04.2019
    Date Posted: 07.15.2020 16:52
    Story ID: 373987
    Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US

    Web Views: 11
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN