Dramatic Rescue Combines PWC & Coastguard
The rescue of a plane crash survivor in an out of the way corner of Alaska on September 22, 2007, is the basis of a dramatic story that includes personal watercraft. The full story is on the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s e-zine site http://www.teamcoastguard.org .
The part of the story that resonates with me is the fortunate coincidences that brought together a collection of unrelated people at the crucial moment to save a woman’s life. There were the recreational hikers (and paramedic) who found the site, the recreational boaters with a radio, the Coast Guard Auxiliary who happened to be nearby conducting a training exercise, and the uniformed Coast Guard in a helicopter doing a routine aerial inspection of aids to navigation.
As you read the story, imagine all these people who with no advance planning and no experience working together, were able to save a life. The tragic loss of the pilot’s life could easily have been compounded had not the collection of skilled and trained people been available at that place at that moment.
Yes the Kawasaki JET SKI® watercraft on loan to the Coast Guard Auxiliary played a role, but no more crucial than the skills, coolness, and training of the many individuals involved. The Dean’s hat is off to everyone involved and I am honored that those Alaskan Coast Guard Auxiliarists are part of the PWC nation.
