NAS Whidbey Island SAR rescues injured teen

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island search and rescue (SAR) personnel responded to a call for assistance from the Mason County Sheriff's Office Aug. 17.

A 15-year old girl had fallen off a cliff and into the river in Skokomish River Canyon while hiking with her family.

SAR launched an MH-60S Knighthawk with a crew of six personnel. Ground rescue teams reached the injured hiker and rendered first aid.

Once on location, the SAR crew analyzed the situation and began conducting basic operational risk management, taking everything into consideration in order to embark on a safe and successful extraction mission. The biggest obstacle was the 450-foot High Steel Bridge spanning the canyon.

Lt. Brandon Sheets, SAR pilot and mission commander, said the crew conducted power checks, determined wind levels and direction, checked the clearances under the bridge and ran through the scenario.

"When we showed up we took a deep breath, surveyed everything and formulated a plan," said Sheets. "Once we had a good plan we knew we could do it safely."

The pilots flew the aircraft into position and held it in a steady hover so SAR crew member Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Richmond Roy, could rappel down to the river with the litter.

Due to the river's current and the wind kicked up by the rotor blades, Roy stayed on the line. He said thanks in part to the ground rescue crew the patient was ready for transfer. She was placed in a litter, carried to the line and then hooked for a lift up into the helicopter with Roy.

"The rotors caused a funnel of wind in the canyon and that's what made us spin more than usual," said Roy. "I was able to slow it down some (with arm motions)."

The entire time the aircraft was under the bridge, the crew had eyes on the rotors and was calling out distances to ensure they maintained adequate clearances on both sides. Sheets said he estimates they were actually on scene no more than 11 minutes, even though it felt longer.

"Lt. Zenner did an awesome job holding the bird rock solid," said Roy. "That made it possible to get the patient hooked up and in the aircraft so quickly."

Once in the aircraft, the pilots maneuvered the helicopter back out from under the bridge, gained elevation out of the canyon and headed east for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

NAS Whidbey Island's SAR crews have successfully conducted 17 missions this year.

By Kimberly Martin, NAS Whidbey Island Public Affairs