Photos by Larry Robeson
A Coast Guard aircrew assisted local responders in the medevac of a logger near Chitwood, who reportedly fell 500 feet down a ravine and suffered from a collapsed lung and broken ribs, Friday July 22. An MH 65-Dolphin aircrew from Coast Guard Air Facility Newport hoisted the injured logger and transferred him to emergency medical services waiting at the Corvallis Municipal Airport.
Lincoln County Fire Department crewmembers on-scene with the injured logger contacted Coast Guard Sector North Bend watchstanders at 10:15 a.m. to request assistance. The aircrew launched and transferred the patient to EMS at approximately 11 a.m.
The aircrew was assisting at the request of the Lincoln County Technical Rope Rescue Team, which is comprised of members from several fire departments that work together to perform technical rescues all over Lincoln County.The rope team is activated by any county emergency service agency to assist as needed and participates in monthly drills in areas they receive calls.
“It was beneficial coordinating with the Coast Guard aircrew as packing the injured logger out on foot would have taken hours to get him the care he needed,” said Larry Robeson, a training officer with the Lincoln County rope rescue team. “We had excellent responders on scene, leading to a timely and efficient rescue.”
Information provided by USCG
