A man with a leg injury was medevaced from Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises’ ocean ship, on June 27 while the vessel was some 12 miles southwest of Yakutat, Alaska.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was sent to assist the cruise ship, which was en route to Sitka at the time.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received a medevac request from the Crystal Serenity crew for a passenger with a fractured femur. Watchstanders requested the launch of the Jayhawk crew after consulting the duty flight surgeon who recommended medevac of the man.
The 57-year-old passenger was hoisted and transported to Sitka.
“Safety is paramount, especially during any response that requires hoisting by helicopter,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Samuel Bass , command duty officer for Sector Juneau.
“Great communication between the Coast Guard, the Crystal Serenity, EMS and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium personnel enabled a safe, efficient transfer of the passenger to a higher level of care.”