Date: 29 Dec 2003
Time: 11:02
A San Diego-based Coast Guard HH-06J Jayhwak helicopter rescued a 62-year-old fishing boat captain who was stricken with heart problems aboard his vessel.
The fishing boat skipper’s defibrillator was malfunctioning, causing cardiac distress, on 9 November 2003 and a distress call was made to the US Coast Guard.
Lt. Nevada Smith, aircraft commander of Coast Guard 6035, diverted from a Homeland Security mission and proceeded to the vessel’s location under a new call sign, Coast Guard Rescue 2035.
A rescue swimmer was deployed and both victim and swimmer were hoisted safely on board the JAYHAWK. The helicopter then flew to Scripps La Jolla hospital where the victim was stabilised.
In another case, on 8 December 2003, a JAYHAWK crew hoisted a 40-year-old man in critical condition from a cruise ship, 100 miles south of San Diego.
The crew of the cruise ship Columbus contacted the Coast Guard just after 3 p.m. on Monday. The ship’s doctor conferred with the Coast Guard flight surgeon, who recommended a medical evacuation.
The rescue helicopter crew, along with a San Diego Special Response Team paramedic, launched at 3:45 p.m., arrived on scene at 4:45 and hoisted the patient (a citizen of the Philippines suffering from appendicitis). They arrived at Scripps hospital at 5:20 p.m.