February 5, 2015
Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew takes off to medevac injured crewmembers from the commercial vessel Almasi, more than 50 miles off the Oregon Coast, Feb. 5, 2015.
The Jayhawk crew responded to provide medical assistance and evacuation of three crewmembers after the crew of the Almasi reported the injuries on board.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley.
WARRENTON, Ore. — A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced three mariners, reportedly suffering from burns and a leg injury, from a cargo ship 52 miles west of the Columbia River Bar, Thursday. A Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the three men from the 623-foot Cyprus-flagged motor vessel and transferred them to awaiting emergency medical service personnel at the air station.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report at 11:30 a.m. from Pacific Coast Maritime Agencies, a vessel operation service for tanker and dry bulk vessels, personnel Almasi crew members had received injuries consistent with chemical burns and another crew member had a possible broken bone. The mariners were reportedly injured while refueling and cleaning the holds.The crew of the Almasi was originally 69 miles west of the Columbia River Bar and coordinated with Coast Guard personnel to move closer to shore to rendezvous with the Jayhawk crew. The Jayhawk crew arrived on scene around 1:42 pm., assessed the Almasi members' injuries, hoisted the three men and safely handed them over at 3:09 p.m. to emergency medical services, who transported them to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, for further medical treatment."The outstanding coordination between the Almasi crew and Coast Guard watchstanders and helicopter crew led to an effective medevac," said Petty Officer 1st Class John Bennett, the search and rescue controller at Sector Columbia River. "Despite the challenging weather conditions, our helicopter crew was able to safely hoist the injured men and get them to the medical care they required."Weather on scene was reported as 31 to 38 mph winds with 19-foot seas. Air temperature was 56 degrees Fahrenheit and water temperature was 54 degrees Fahrenheit.