Archive image: A rescue swimmer from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria dangles below an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter as it hovers above Elliott Bay near Seattle, Washington, Aug. 1, 2023.
The demonstration was part of the Parade of Ships for the annual Seafair festival.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier.
SEATTLE — A Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew medevac a fisherman approximately 180 nautical miles offshore Astoria, Oregon. Thursday, July 24, 2025.
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher crew from 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, provided assistance overhead with weather reporting and communications.
Watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, British Columbia, received a call shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday from the commercial fishing vessel about a Canadian crew member experiencing a medical emergency. At the time, the vessel was approximately 300 nautical miles west of Astoria.
The watch officers in Victoria then notified personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District Command Center in Seattle of the emergency.
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher aircrew from 19th Wing based in Comox, British Columbia, provided assistance overhead with communications.
U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force video edited by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
U.S. Coast Guard crews conferred with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac. The watchstanders established regular communications with the vessel’s crew to monitor the patient’s status as the vessel proceeded east to get closer to shore.
Once the vessel was in a safer area for a medevac, a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew was launched.
The Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter and the RCAF CC-295 Kingfisher aircrews arrived on scene around 2 p.m. The man was safely hoisted by the MH-60 aircrew and brought to Air Station Astoria at 4 p.m. where he was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to receive a higher level of care.
“This rescue highlights the interoperability and mutual support between Canada and the United States in maritime Search and Rescue operations,” said Cmdr. Chelsey Stroud, U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue mission coordinator.
“When a Canadian mariner needs urgent help far from home, our U.S. Coast Guard partners answered the call,” said Capt. KP Brar of the Royal Canadian Air Force. “With support from the 19th Wing, this mission shows how trusted allies work together to save lives. Our SAR professionals train side-by-side for missions like this.”
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