A 42-year-old crewman aboard a Greece-owned bulk carrier was medevaced on Oct. 19 from 130 miles southeast of Cold Bay after the U.S. Coast Guard received a call saying the man fell 20 feet from scaffolding, and had possible back and hip injuries.
A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak hoisted the man late that night and transported him to Cold Bay, where he was transferred to commercial medical services and transported to Anchorage for further medical care.
The Coast Guard crew reached the 655-foot motor vessel Delsa a little over three hours after the call for help came in from the captain of the Delsa, which is owned by Franco Naviera Co. S.A. and sails under the flag of Malta.
Once the helicopter crew arrived on scene, Chief Petty Officer Matt Laub, an aviation survival technician, and a rescue litter were lowered to the top deck of the Delsa.
Laub was escorted by the Delsa’s crew to a narrow staircase where it led to the cargo hold. Laub stabilized the man on the rescue litter, then proceeded to direct the 150-foot hoist of the man from the cargo hold to the helicopter.
“This was a complex rescue due to the location of the man and the location of the Delsa’s mast and crane,” Laub said. “Due to our raining and the superb coordination between the watchstanders, the crew of the Delsa and this aircrew, we were able to get this man to a higher level of medical care.
Coast Guard officials said weather at the time of the medevac was clear skies, 11 miles an hour winds, and seven-foot seas.
