A Coast Guard aircrew worked with local agencies to medevac a 52-year-old woman after she fell down a canyon 10 miles East of Manzanita, Monday, May 30. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, safely transferred the woman to staff at Tillamook Regional Medical Center. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a medevac request around 6:20 p.m. through Tillamook County Dispatchers for the woman, and the helicopter crew was launched in response. At the time of the request, the woman was stranded in the elements for more than 24 hours. While the aircrew was in transit, sector watchstanders coordinated the patient transfer with hospital personnel and ensured a nearby spot to safely land. “In any emergency situation, time plays a crucial role as exhaustion and exposure to the elements take their toll,” said Lt. Kristen Caldwell, command duty officer at Sector Columbia River. “This was an outstanding effort on behalf of our crews and our partner agencies to ensure this woman got the care she needed.” There were no serious injuries reported.
