A Search and Rescue, or SAR, team from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station rescued a 42-year-old man and his 11-year-old who were son stuck in a steep rocky area of Elk Rock, near Mount St. Helens, early this morning.
A ground party was unable to rapidly transport the father and son who were hunting in the area. Both father and son were suffering from hypothermia and in need of medical assistance.
NAS Whidbey Island’s SAR was dispatched at around 4:30 this morning because it was the only available high-altitude nighttime resource in the region. According to the Helicopter Aircraft Commander Lt. Cmdr. David Waner, the SAR crew landed the MH-60S helicopter in a river bed.
“We used great crew resource management to keep the mission on track,” said Waner. “Thanks to the SAR ground team for preparing them for transportation and the Cowlitz Sheriff and Dispatch.”
The two victims were flown to Providence Centralia Hospital. NAS Whidbey SAR has launched on 31 search and rescue missions and nine medical evacuations this year, resulting in 42 lives saved.
The Navy SAR unit is specifically based here for search and rescue missions 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 State with medical evacuations and search and rescue activities.