Atlas

A US Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 50-year-old man from the "Atlas" 200 miles off the Columbia River entrance on Dec 1, 2017. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 13th District Command Center received a request for assistance from the captain of the bulk carrier, reporting the crewman was exhibiting symptoms of either a heart attack or a stroke. The duty Coast Guard flight surgeon was briefed, concurred with the need for medevac and requested that the patient be placed on oxygen until the flight crew could arrive. At the time of the request, the vessel was more than 300 miles offshore and en route from Yokohama to Seattle. 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 Sacramento, California, provided the requested support. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River safely hoisted the crewman and transported him to Sector, where he was transferred to Life Flight Network personnel for transportation to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Report with photo: http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-medevacs-ill-man-after-400-mile-flight-off-oregon/2017/12/01/