From the Coast Guard
Our Aircrew conducted quite the challenging case last night. The crew departed Kodiak for a male with pulmonary failure in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The Hercules battled extreme headwinds, an active volcano, low level wind shear, and turbulence to land at night in minimum visibility. Once on deck a second patient arrived without notice. The individual was a high risk pregnancy and needed higher level care due to risk of loss of both mother and child.The aircraft tookoff and braved near zero visibility, heavy rain, wind shear, and terrain to safely depart the airport. Several hours later the crew arrived in Anchorage and transported both patients to awaiting EMS.
