A PLB was activated when three teenage boys from Atgasuk, Alaska became lost and ran out of fuel for their two snow machines. The three teenagers were traveling on two snow machines pulling one sled. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the SARSAT alert and launched a helicopter to the SARSAT location. The crew of the helicopter located the boys and transported them back to their home in Wainwright, Alaska.
Three SARSAT Rescues
4/19/2008
Atgasuk, Alaska
Alaska Recue Coordination Center received the SARSAT alert and passed it to the North Slope Borough Search and Rescue (NSB). NSB contacted the Atgasuk Search and Rescue volunteers. The volunteers dispatched three teams to the SARSAT location. When the teams arrived, they found an individual suffering from a badly broken leg. The Atgasuk volunteers transported the individual to the Atgasuk Clinic. A med-evac helicopter then transported the patient to a Barrow, Alaska hospital.
One SARSAT Rescue
4/17/2008
New Orleans, Louisiana
Coast Guard District Eight received the SARSAT alert and launched a helicopter to the SARSAT position. They found the Fishing Vessel, Dyno Mike, disabled and adrift. The crew of the fishing vessel did not want to leave the vessel. The Coast Guard sent a small boat to the scene to tow the vessel. However, the vessel's fishing nets were deployed so they were unable to tow the vessel. The Coast Guard assisted the vessel with repairs and they were able to continue underway.
Four SARSAT Rescues
4/15/2008
Puerto Rico
The crew of the Korean flagged cargo vessel Tel Tale II abandoned their vessel after waves reportedly beat on the vessel’s starboard side causing the cargo to shift and the vessel to lose its steering before sinking. Coast Guard Sector San Juan received the SARSAT alert and launched an aircraft to the scene and called out to nearby vessels for assistance. The M/V tanker Aegean Angel responded and went to the scene. The Coast Guard aircraft arrived on the scene and located all 11 crewmembers in a life boat. The crew of the Coast Guard aircraft vectored the Aegean Angel to the scene. The Aegean Angel safely retrieved the 11 crewmembers.
Eleven SARSAT Rescues
4/15/2008
Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) attempted to launch both Civil Air Patrol and Air National Guard (ANG) aircraft to the scene but was unable due to poor weather. The AKRCC then received an overdue aircraft report in the vicinity of the SARSAT location. An Alaska State Troopers (AST) helicopter was able to launch and located the crash site. They found one survivor out of five people that were on board the downed helicopter. The helicopter was transporting technicians and a guest to a radio site. AST transported the survivor, a 14 year boy, to MAT-Su regional hospital in stable condition.
One SARSAT Rescue
4/15/2008
Daytona Beach, Florida
Coast Guard District 7 received an unlocated alert from the fishing vessel Kelly Ann. Using the registration information the Coast Guard was able to establish contact with the owner. The owner reported that the vessel was taking on water due to rough seas. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter to the scene with a pump. The crew of the helicopter lowered the pump to the vessel. Using the pump provided by the Coast Guard, the crew of the vessel was able to control the flooding and continue into port under their own power.
Three SARSAT Rescues
4/10/2008
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The crew of the Panamanian flagged vessel Sea Venus manually activated their EPIRB because there was an out of control fire in the engine room. Coast Guard LANTAREA Rescue Coordination Center coordinated assistance from the Canadian Navy and two merchant vessels the Challenge Plus and the Olympian Highway. The fire was put out but the vessel has no power. Fourteen of the 23 crewmembers have been safely transferred from the vessel Sea Venus to its sister ship, the Olympian Highway. Nine crewmembers remain on board to await a tug from Halifax.
Twenty Three SARSAT Rescues
4/8/2008
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
The sailing vessel Born, with five people on board, was demasted and its propeller was fouled. The Coast Guard LANTAREA Rescue Coordination Center launched a fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter from the Elizabeth City Air Station. The fixed wing aircraft located the vessel and the five people were hoisted on board the helicopter and transported to the Albermarle Hospital in North Carolina. Two of the five people sustained cuts and scrapes.
Five SARSAT Recues
4/3/2008
Hemet, California
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center(AFRCC) received a SARSAT alert for a 406 MHz PLB. Using the registration information they learned that the owner of the PLB was out with a colleague tracking a mountain lion. AFRCC alerted the California Office of Emergency Services and the local Civil Air Patrol to search for the two men. The 406 MHz PLB was manually activated when one of the men sprained his ankle while they were tracking the mountain lion. There was not enough daylight for them to hike back to their car, so they made a shelter and stayed in place for the rest of the night. The next day they tried to make their way down the mountain. They were soon located by the California Office of Emergency Services ground teams searching for them in the area.
One SARSAT Rescue
4/1/2008
Koliganek, Alaska
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the SARSAT alert nd launched a ground team to the scene. Poor weather conditions had prevented the use of aircraft. The pilot was located and transported to the Koliganek Clinic.
One SARSAT Rescue
3/26/2008
Billings, Montana
A request for assistance was issued by the Prescott Flight Center to all planes in the area, after it was determined that the flight path from an overdue PA28 aircraft came near the SARSAT alert location. A volunteer responded with a privately owned helicopter to the request for assistance. The pilot of the overdue aircraft was located and transported to St. Vincents Hospital in Billings. The pilot suffered some lacerations and possibly a dislocated shoulder. He also suffered from hypothermia.
