Over the weekend, a U.S. Coast Guard crew from Air Station Sitka medevacked a teenager who was experiencing chest pains while hiking on the north end of Baranof Island.
At around 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Juneau watchstanders received notice from the Sitka Wilderness Therapy team leader that a 16-year-old male in their group was experiencing chest pains while on a hike near Duffield Peninsula.
KCAW spoke with Coast Guard public affairs specialist Lauren Dean, who said that a Sitka helicopter crew responded, landing on the rocky shoreline shortly before 8:30 p.m. The hiking group lit a flare and was communicating with the rescue team with a VHF radio, which made it easy for the Coast Guard crew to find them.
The helicopter returned to Sitka shortly before 9 p.m. and the patient was transferred to EMS for further care.
