Sun, Aug 11, 2019
Mariner Was Airlifted To Guam And Transported To Guam Memorial Hospital For Medical Care
The Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 responded to a civilian in distress aboard a Chinese-flagged vessel in the Pacific Aug. 6.
Within two hours of notification by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam of the distressed mariner, a Chinese national aboard CSC Brave, an HSC-25 search and rescue team led by aircraft commander Lt. Cmdr. Philip Pretzinger departed Andersen Air Force Base.
“Despite the adverse weather and sea state, the team was able to execute a precision litter hoist from CSC Brave,” Pretzinger said. “Lt. Erik Kumetz and Petty Officer Kyle Bowen performed a harrowing in-flight blood transfusion, ultimately saving the patient’s life.”
The mariner was airlifted to Guam and transported to Guam Memorial Hospital for medical care.
The incident was the 18th emergency call to HSC-25 by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam this year and marks 16 recoveries during search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) in 2019.
“HSC-25’s ability to launch our aircraft on a moment’s notice for a SAR or MEDEVAC is astounding,” said Cmdr. Frank Loforti, commanding officer of HSC-25. “Just two weeks after rescuing a distressed mariner, the team was once again able to flawlessly execute a rescue under the most demanding of circumstances. Every Sailor should be proud of the lives we are able to save and the support we provide to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron.
(Source: US Navy news release. US Navy image: Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Pretzinger prepares to approach the Chinse-flagged vessel CSC Brave during a medical evacuation mission, Aug. 6)
More News
“We achieved full mission success today, and I am so proud of the team. It turns out Never Tell Me The Odds had perfect odds—never before in history has a booster this >[...]
NonDirectional Beacon An L/MF or UHF radio beacon transmitting nondirectional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment can determine his/h>[...]
About 5ft Above Ground Level, The Airplane Stalled, And The Left Wing Dropped Analysis: The pilot reported that this flight was conducted as part of phase 1 flight testing of the n>[...]
Aero Linx: Brodhead Pietenpol Association The Brodhead Pietenpol Association is a newly reorganized (in 2017) non-profit educational corporation that grew and developed from an ear>[...]
Also: VerdeGo Contract, Medi-Carrier, Gambit 6 UCAV, Blade Urban Air Mobility Pilot Archer Aviation has inked a deal for control of Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR), also known as>[...]
Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.17.25)
See All