Aug. 19, 2005
19 WING COMOX – A Cormorant helicopter and Buffalo aircraft responded to a call to yesterday to pick up and transfer a seriously ill 74-year-old woman from the cruise ship Crystal Harmony, which was along the West Coast of British Columbia near Bella Bella.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria received a call from the ship requesting that the passenger be transferred to medical facilities. JRCC immediately requested the Cormorant and Buffalo out of 19 Wing Comox respond.
The Cormorant helicopter arrived on scene and hoisted two Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) to the deck of the ship to prepare the patient for the hoist to the helicopter. Once safely hoisted to the Cormorant, the SAR Techs and Aeromedical Evacuation (AME) team continued to monitor the patient during the flight to Bella Bella, where the helicopter landed. The patient and the AME team was then transferred to the Buffalo aircraft and flown to 19 Wing Comox, where an ambulance was waiting to take her to St. Joseph’s General Hospital.
“The patient was conscious, stable and talking,” said Capt. Pat Forrester, flight nurse, who just recently joined the 19 Wing team. “Imagine the ordeal of being ill and then going from holiday to hoist. We monitored her throughout the flight and reassured her constantly. She was safely evacuated, without incident.”
The Cormorant crew: Maj. Kevin Toone, aircraft commander, Lt(USCG) Chris Hulser, first officer, MCpl Brian Shoneberg, flight engineer, Sgt. Mike Hurtubise, SAR Tech team lead, Master Cpl. Rob Coates, SAR Tech, Capt. Pat Forrester, flight nurse, and Master Cpl. Rico Holland, flight medic.
The Buffalo crew: Capt. Gord Holm, aircraft commander, Capt. Ian MacNeil, first officer, Capt. Dan Brennan, navigator, Master Cpl. Brian Doll, flight engineer, WO Brad Gough, SAR Tech team lead, Master Cpl. Jannick Gilbert, SAR Tech, as well as the flight nurse and flight medic, who transferred aircraft in Bella Bella with the patient.
