— from Mike Welding, Public Affairs Officer, NAS Whidbey —
A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island conducted a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) late Friday night for a Lopez Island woman in possible cardiac arrest.
The SAR crew of five took off at about 9:30 p.m. to airlift the 55-year-old woman from
Lopez Island airport to Island Hospital, Anacortes, Wash.
Due to poor weather conditions, a civilian medical transport helicopter was unable to assist. This is the fifth MEDEVAC SAR has flown from the San Juan Islands since Jan. 5, 2015.
Last year, NAS Whidbey Island SAR launched on 18 search and rescue missions and 10 medical evacuations, resulting in 47 lives saved.
The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60 helicopters from NAS Whidbey as search and rescue platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. The base also has an agreement to assist Washington evacuations and search and rescue activities.
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What a wonderful service to our islands, it is a nice change to hear appreciation and not complaints about NAS Whidbey.
David Mowrey
Navy wings are made of Gold!⚓️??