A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter on sits on deck at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015. The aircrew medevaced a man from the Delaware Water Gap who suffered multiple injuries after falling from a tree. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LT Christopher Hooper)
Video of the medevac is available online
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 19-year-old man Tuesday from the Appalachian Trail of the Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
Watchstanders at the 5th Coast Guard District received a request for an agency assist to rescue the man, who fell from a tree.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City responded to the call Tuesday at approximately 4 a.m., arrived on scene at approximately 5 a.m. and hoisted the man, who suffered multiple serious injuries including fractures and lacerations.
The helicopter crew also hoisted a local paramedic who was providing medical care to the survivor prior to the helicopter's arrival.
Due to the terrain in the area, the helicopter crew performed the hoist at an altitude of 110 feet, whereas typical hoists at sea are performed at altitudes of 30-50 feet.
The helicopter crew transferred the survivor to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa. They were unable to land on the hospital's helipad due to an EMS helicopter already being parked there. They landed in a nearby parking lot, where the patient was transferred via ambulance to the hospital, where he is receiving further medical care.
“Even in the most difficult situation, we fell back on our training and how we do things every day and modified it to effect a different type of rescue well within the limits of the crew’s capabilities," said Lt. Christopher Hooper, the aircraft commander on the rescue mission. "Overall the crew worked well to deliver the patient to the hospital in a timely fashion.”