U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Clark.
PORT ANGELES, Wash. — A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew medevac an injured fisherman of a Canadian-flagged commercial fishing vessel Ocean Pearl at 50 miles west off Neah Bay Saturday afternoon.
A Coast Guard Sector Field Office/Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew safely hoisted the 19-year-old man into the aircraft and transferred him to emergency medical services at the Coast Guard base for transport to Olympic Medical Center for further care. The fisherman reportedly suffered a knife wound in the leg, which needed more extensive medical care than the boatcrew could provide.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle received the medevac request from the captain of the 110-foot fishing vessel Ocean Pearl at about 1 p.m. The watchstanders then directed the launch of the aircrew. The aircrew arrived on scene at 2:14 p.m. and conducted the hoist. The aircrew transferred patient care to EMS at 3:23 p.m.
The fisherman was transferred in stable condition.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter is certified for operation in all-weather and night-time operations, with three of the helicopters stationed in Port Angeles and 100 in use across the service by the USCG.
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