MIAMI – Coast Guard personnel coordinated with media and urban search and rescue teams in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to medically evacuate a 69-year-old woman rescued from rubble near the Presidential Palace Tuesday evening.
AC360° anchor, Anderson Cooper, and broadcast team were reporting on the story of the injured woman, who was rescued after being trapped in rubble for seven days and taken to a makeshift medical clinic. Center for the Rural Development of Milot (CRUDEM) officials learned of the rescue and contacted the Coast Guard for assistance in medically evacuating her to Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti, for further treatment.
Coast Guard officials immediately began coordination efforts with the CNN crew and rescuers on the ground as well as officials in Atlanta to determine the location of the earthquake survivor and a suitable landing site. A Coast Guard MH-65 aircrew from Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville, currently embarked on the cutter Tahoma, then flew in darkness to her location approximately one-half block from the National Cathedral; using night vision capabilities and signals from the rescuers on the ground.
“This medevac was unique and very satisfying for everyone involved because of the level of coordination and resourcefulness required to successfully locate this survivor and get her to the medical attention she so badly needed,” said Capt. James McPherson, a Coast Guard spokesman in Port-au-Prince.
The injured woman was flown to the amphibious assault U.S. Naval Ship Bataan (LHD-5) for immediate medical care.
Her condition is unknown.
