Coast Guard medevaced injured man from cargo vessel 174 miles off Columbia River, Oct. 2

A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 38-year-old man from a cargo vessel 174 miles off the Columbia River entrance, Saturday. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River safely hoisted the injured crewman and transported him to sector, where he was transferred to Life Flight Network personnel for transportation to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. Watchstanders at Sector Columbia River received a request for assistance at 2:53 p.m. from the shipping agent for the cargo vessel Tawa Arrow. The agent reported the crewman had suffered burns on his legs and arms from a boiler steam incident, and had received antibiotics and pain medication. The Jayhawk crew launched in response with a Life Flight Network nurse aboard to assist with patient care. At the time of the request, the 623-foot Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel was over 200 miles offshore and en route to Columbia River. Due to concerns with the distance, sector personnel coordinated with Coast Guard 13th District watchstanders to request the assistance of a fixed wing aircraft crew for offshore coverage. A C-27 Spartan aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacremento, California, provided the requested support. Weather on scene was 17-MPH winds, 7-foot high seas, an air temperature of 60 F and a water temperature of 63 F.