Tom Hunter
14 January 2001, 11:31
Jan. 4, 2001
CREWS RESCUE MAN STRANDED IN SWAMP AREA
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (Night Flyer News Service) – Crews from the 20th Special Operations Squadron and 23rd Special Tactics Squadron retrieved a man trapped in a swamp area near the base golf course, Jan. 1.
According to base officials, the man was walking in the swampy area near Gator Lakes Golf Course and became stuck in the mud. Due to the terrain and swamp conditions, emergency response vehicles were unable to get close enough to rescue him.
Officials called the 23rd STS and 20th SOS for assists. The man was believed to have been trapped in the swamp area for nearly six hours with air temperatures below 40, and hypothermia had set in.
Despite the holiday, the 20th SOS pulled in a six-man helo team for the mission and was airborne less than 2 hours after notification. The 23rd STS had a four-man team on call, who along with the unit's director of operations, also responded to the scene.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Scotty Gearen, superintendent of the 23rd STS, the team put one Pararescueman on board the MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, while the remaining members headed out to the swamp area.
The ground team of three Combat Controllers and an additional PJ mucked through the water and mud to reach the victim. On scene, they treated the victim for hypothermia and freed him from the neck-high mud. The team then moved the victim to drier ground so the helicopter crew could lower a Stokes Litter to hoist him out of the swamp.
On board the Pave Low, the PJ -- Senior Airman Michael Herrera -- treated the man for hypothermia. After landing, the victim was transported via ambulance to the hospital at Eglin Air Force Base. He was treated and released from the hospital.
The Pave Low, commanded by Capt. Jason Stanley, then returned to the scene and hoisted out the rescue team. The ground rescue team included Capt. Kurt Buller, Staff Sgt. Jamie Light and Senior Airman Jack Fanning, all Combat Controllers; and Staff Sgt. Doug Isaacks, PJ.
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CREWS RESCUE MAN STRANDED IN SWAMP AREA
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (Night Flyer News Service) – Crews from the 20th Special Operations Squadron and 23rd Special Tactics Squadron retrieved a man trapped in a swamp area near the base golf course, Jan. 1.
According to base officials, the man was walking in the swampy area near Gator Lakes Golf Course and became stuck in the mud. Due to the terrain and swamp conditions, emergency response vehicles were unable to get close enough to rescue him.
Officials called the 23rd STS and 20th SOS for assists. The man was believed to have been trapped in the swamp area for nearly six hours with air temperatures below 40, and hypothermia had set in.
Despite the holiday, the 20th SOS pulled in a six-man helo team for the mission and was airborne less than 2 hours after notification. The 23rd STS had a four-man team on call, who along with the unit's director of operations, also responded to the scene.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Scotty Gearen, superintendent of the 23rd STS, the team put one Pararescueman on board the MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, while the remaining members headed out to the swamp area.
The ground team of three Combat Controllers and an additional PJ mucked through the water and mud to reach the victim. On scene, they treated the victim for hypothermia and freed him from the neck-high mud. The team then moved the victim to drier ground so the helicopter crew could lower a Stokes Litter to hoist him out of the swamp.
On board the Pave Low, the PJ -- Senior Airman Michael Herrera -- treated the man for hypothermia. After landing, the victim was transported via ambulance to the hospital at Eglin Air Force Base. He was treated and released from the hospital.
The Pave Low, commanded by Capt. Jason Stanley, then returned to the scene and hoisted out the rescue team. The ground rescue team included Capt. Kurt Buller, Staff Sgt. Jamie Light and Senior Airman Jack Fanning, all Combat Controllers; and Staff Sgt. Doug Isaacks, PJ.
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