Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel north of Cold Bay

KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak based HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew, forward-deployed to the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, conducted a medevac of a 40-year-old male from the 280-foot processor fishing vessel Golden Alaska 46 miles north of Cold Bay Monday.

Nery Arriaza, hometown unknown, was reportedly suffering from severe chest pains when the captain of the Golden Alaska contacted the Coast Guard via satellite phone at 9:12 a.m. requesting a medevac. The Dolphin crew launched from the cutter at 11:57 a.m. and arrived on scene safely hoisting Arriaza at 12:17 p.m.

“Since the start of February, Air Station Kodiak crews have saved 18 lives in some of the harshest weather conditions you can imagine for flight,” said Lt. j.g. Edward Michno, a 17th District Coast Guard search and rescue controller. “As a search and rescue controller, it’s amazing to see the performance and results of our fellow Coast Guardsmen.”

The helicopter crew arrived in Cold Bay at 1:30 p.m. and transferred Arriaza to a emergency medical flight services to Anchorage for further medical care.

The weather at the time of the medevac was reported as 23 to 29 mph winds with six foot seas. The 378-foot cutter Morgenthau is homeported in Alameda, Calif.