A Search and Rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island evacuated a pregnant woman suffering a fetal emergency Wednesday from Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville.

The SAR crew of five took off around 9:30 p.m. from the helicopter pad at Whidbey General Hospital and the crew flew to Paine Field in Everett.

A paramedic crew was waiting at the airfield fire station when the helicopter landed and the patient was transferred with no issues.

“The weather was extremely tough and we encountered really heavy winds and rain throughout the flight. Thanks to good communication within our crew and externally with ground crews at the hospital and airfield, we were able to safely get the job done tonight,” said SAR Crew Chief Naval Aircrewman Second Class Ricardo Rosado.

“Every time we are able to get out and give back to our community, it validates the effort we put into our training.”

This was the fifth medical evacuation this year for NAS Whidbey SAR, which also conducted four rescue operations this year.

In 2015 the unit conducted 19 MEDEVAC missions, 11 searches and seven rescues, resulting in 29 lives delivered to higher level care.