Hurt crewman airlifted off trawler near Adak

This just in from the U.S. Coast Guard:

March 31, 2010

Coast Guard conducts long-range rescue near Adak

KODIAK — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aircrews this morning medevaced a crewman reported to have injured his wrist on the 200-foot trawler Ocean Peace, homeported in Dutch Harbor, less than 100 miles northwest of Adak.

Joemar Lontoc, 25, residence unknown, was cleaning a fish-processing machine when it was reported to have accidentally activated, lacerating his wrist. The Coast Guard received a report from the Ocean Peace crew Tuesday afternoon regarding the nature of the situation and requesting assistance.

The Coast Guard launched two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews Tuesday evening from St. Paul Island and Kodiak, along with an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Kodiak, to conduct the medevac.

Due to blizzard conditions near Adak, Lontoc was unable to be hoisted Tuesday evening and the rescue crews spent the night in Cold Bay and Adak.

The helicopter crew in Adak launched at about 9 a.m. Wednesday and successfully hoisted Lontoc. Since the hoist occurred within 100 miles of the coastline, the Hercules and second helicopter crew were not used to provide additional communications and self-rescue capability to the rescue helicopter.

Lontoc was transferred to emergency medical services in Adak about 11:30 a.m. and taken to the Adak medical clinic. An air ambulance is taking Lontoc to Anchorage for further treatment.

The weather at the time of the medevac was blowing snow, visibility one-quarter mile, and air temperature in the low 30s with winds northwest at 30 to 45 mph.