The NAS Whidbey Island SAR staff launched earlier than 10 p.m. final evening to answer a climber affected by chest pains on a cliff ledge at an elevation of 8,400 toes on Mt. Stuart. The SAR crew was capable of contact the ailing climber and his good friend and ask them to activate strobe lights to assist find them as soon as the helicopter was on station.
When the SAR crew arrived on scene at about 10 p.m. they noticed the strobe gentle and located the climbing staff on a small ledge amongst small spires working alongside a steep backbone on the north face. The SAR staff have been capable of hoist the affected person aboard and ship him to Harborview Medical Middle in Seattle the place they landed simply earlier than 11 p.m.
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has performed 25 missions this calendar 12 months, which incorporates 1 MEDEVAC, 4 searches and 20 rescues.
The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G plane in addition to different squadrons and personnel assigned to the set up. Pursuant to the Nationwide SAR Plan of the US, the unit can also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC must the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference foundation with main navy duties in line with relevant nationwide directives, plans, pointers and agreements; particularly, the unit might launch in response to tasking by the Air Drive Rescue Coordination Middle (primarily based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the US Coast Guard for all different aeronautical and maritime areas, when different belongings are unavailable.
