LEIKANGER

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Course/Position

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Medevac off Midway

The US Coast Guard, working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS) and the Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), medically evacuated a 32-year-old Latvian crewmember of the 'Leikanger' off Midway late on Oct 20, 2019. In the night of Oct 18, the JRCC Honolulu watchstanders received a call from Rescue Coordination Center Stavanger, in Norway, reporting the mariner was experiencing a medical emergency aboard the tanker. The vessel was 667 miles north of Midway at the time of the call. The duty flight surgeon recommended the vessel make best speed to Midway Island to deliver the crew member for further transport by the Hercules crew with DMAT providing in-flight medical care to Honolulu. The crew member was reportedly suffering from severe pain and numbness in his lower abdomen. JRCC Honolulu watchstanders also contacted the U.S. FWS Midway refuge manager to coordinate a transfer. Due to the high volume of birds in the area, particularly albatross, it is necessary to land planes on Midway at night to limit the chance of bird strikes. Watchstanders placed the vessel in a 12-hour communications schedule. At 5:50 p.m., the tanker arrived offshore of Midway and transferred the crewman by small boat transfer. The refuge manager provided local knowledge and recommended that due to the risks involved with the sea state outside of the reef, the best option was for the crew to launch their rescue boat and the U.S. FWS small boat escort them to the pier inside the reef. Following the transfer, the Leikanger crew resumed their voyage, transporting gasoline. The Hercules crew arrived just before 11 p.m. and took the man aboard. They arrived safely to awaiting emergency medical services at Air Station Barbers Point at 2:45 a.m. on Oct 21. Report with photo: https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-medevacs-injured-latvian-crewmember-from-midway-island/2019/10/21/