Whidbey SAR helps in Coast Guard rescue

A helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island lent a hand to assist in a Coast Guard rescue last week.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., medically evacuated a man from Olympic National Park who was injured after reportedly falling down an avalanche chute Thursday, April 21.

The victim was at approximately 3,800 feet elevation near Mount Olympus, which is about 35 miles south of Port Townsend.

According to a NASWI public affairs spokeswoman, NASWI Search and Rescue responded at the request of the Armed Forces Rescue Coordinating Center and launched a SAR crew of five — two pilots, two aircrew and one hospital corpsman.

The SAR crew from NAS Whidbey did not conduct the rescue, but played an integral role in the effort.

“Navy SAR remained overhead to relay radio communications between Puget Sound Sector and the Coast Guard’s SAR helicopter during the rescue and provide weather updates for safe egress,” public affairs officer Kimberly Martin said.

The Coast Guard crew successfully hoisted the injured man aboard and transported him to Ediz Hook in Port Angeles.

The man was transferred to an Airlift Northwest helicopter and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.