A Search and Rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island conducted a Medical Evacuation on Monday morning for a Whidbey Island woman in critical condition at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville.
The SAR crew of five took off at approximately 8 a.m. and transferred the 80-year-old patient to Harborview Medical Center, Seattle without incident.
“It is always a great feeling to help someone from our local community and to be used as an asset when the patient is so close,” said SAR Medical Technician Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John E. Siedler IV. “The crew did a fantastic job with risk management in less than desirable weather conditions to execute a spot-on MEDEVAC of an individual that was certainly in need of our services.”
SAR was also called Saturday evening, Aug. 1 to help the Skagit Valley Water Rescue team search for a 43-year-old man who was believed to be swept down the Skagit River. The victim was not found.
Thus far this year, NAS Whidbey Island SAR launched on 21 SAR/MEDEVAC missions, resulting in 16 lives delivered to higher level care.
The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. The base also has an agreement to assist Washington State with medical evacuations and search and rescue activities.