JOINT BASE ELMENDORF, Alaska – Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued an injured boater Sunday on Twenty Mile River north of Portage.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Daniel Dickman, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the mission was opened following a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
People with the injured boater called 911 dispatch with a cell phone.
The AKRCC assigned the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons to respond.
An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with the 210th RQS launched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with two 212th RQS Pararescuemen (PJs) highly trained in rescue operations.
The crew was able to locate the injured boater using the provided coordinates, and the PJs extracted the boater by hoist due to muddy conditions at the scene that weren't conducive to landing the aircraft. The boater and a friend were transported to Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage and released to medical personnel.
For this mission, the AKRCC, the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save.