November 01, 2002
Friday - 12:30 am

Sitka, Alaska - About 9 p.m. Wednesday, A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Sitka launched with two persons from the Sitka Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) to investigate the report of a hunter who fell about 75-feet down vertical cliffs located on the north side of Crawfish Inlet near here.

The Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew arrived on scene and located the hunter and his guide on the side of a steep slope 1,500 feet above sea level. The helicopter crew deployed the two SMRT members to a small spit of level ground approx 600 feet above the patient and returned to Air Station Sitka to pickup four additional members of the SMRT.  After four additional demanding night hoists, the SMRT was in position and the Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew returned to the base.

Toiling throughout the night the members of the SMRT stabilized and transported the injured hunter up 600' of almost sheer cliff to a level parcel of mountainside.  Less then eight hours later, rescue helicopter 6004 arrived back on-scene and deployed the rescue swimmer to assess the patient and assist with a litter hoist of the same. 

Petty Officer Brian Lickfield brings Doug Anderson into the cabin of the HH-60 Jayhawk. The patient is being raised in the rescue litter and is wrapped in an anti-hypothermia exposure bag. photo courtesy U.S.C.G.

The helicopter crew hoisted 43-year-old Doug Anderson of Springfield Ill. and transported him and to Air Station Sitka where awaiting EMS personnel rushed him to Sitka Community Hospital for treatment. The rescue swimmer and SMRT personnel were recovered in two additional sorties and returned to the air station. The hunter's guide chose to hike out to his vessel anchored in Crawfish Inlet.

Source of News Release:

United States Coast Guard
Web Site

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