Petty Officer 1st Class Bradford Simmons, an aviation survival technician, deploys from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria to conduct the medical evacuation of a 71-year-old man who reportedly collapsed during a hike on Tillamook Head near Seaside, Ore., April 18, 2016.
After hoisting the man, the aircrew transferred him to emergency medical services personnel waiting with an ambulance at Air Station Astoria.
U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy of Coast Guard Air Station Astoria.
WARRENTON, Ore.— A Coast Guard helicopter crew and local emergency responders medevaced a hiker reportedly suffering from exhaustion on the northwest point of Tillamook Head near Seaside Sunday.
The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria hoisted the 71-year-old man and transferred him to emergency medical services personnel waiting with an ambulance at the air station.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders received a call from Seaside 911 personnel around 8 p.m. requesting assistance locating a man who was reportedly hiking back to the trailhead after rock fishing with a friend when he collapsed due to exhaustion.
The helicopter crew diverted from another search-and-rescue case, located the man and vectored in Clatsop County Fire responders, but due to the man's condition and the ruggedness of the terrain, emergency responders could not safely transport him down the trail.
The aircrew completed the hoist and landed at Air Station Astoria at 9 p.m.
“By working together, we were able to come up with a plan to safely get this injured man off the trail and to the care he needed,” said Lt. Christopher Morris, Sector Columbia River command duty officer.
The weather at the time of the rescue was reported to be 74 degrees.