KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
It was a busy President’s Day Weekend for Air Station Kodiak helicopter crews stationed in Dutch Harbor and Saint Paul.
At 9 o’clock Sunday night a crewman from the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Global Bay was medevac’d after complaining of abdominal pain from possible appendicitis. The 561-foot vessel was 200 miles south of Dutch Harbor and was directed to steam north to meet the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley.
By 8 Monday morning, the Dolphin crew hoisted the 38-year-old Filipino crewman from the Global Bay and transferred him to Dutch Harbor after a brief stop back on the Alex Haley to refuel. The man was reported in stable condition when he was transferred to a commercial medical flight.
Later that day, an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk forward deployed to Saint Paul was called upon to medevac a 52-year-old man from the 304-foot catcher-processor Island Enterprise, who was suffering from chest pain.
The Coast Guard was alerted around 11 Sunday night, and when a medevac was deemed necessary, the Jayhawk hoisted him at 3:30 Monday afternoon. The Trident-owned ship was 15 miles south of Saint Paul Island. The man was transferred to Saint Paul to await a commercial medical flight to Anchorage. His current condition is unknown.
