Townsend Woman Rescues Sick Child At Sea
Author: MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Townsend Woman Rescues Sick Child at Sea
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
US Coast Guard Lieutenant Katherine McDonnell flew a search and rescue helicopter to perform a medivac rescue of an eight-year-old boy from a cruise ship Thursday off the coast of Northern California.
McDonnell, who is a 2016 graduate of Broadwater High School, did her first rescue mission over the Pacific Ocean with nerves of steel, according to television program Good Morning America.
The boy, Daniel, was on a two-week vacation on the Royal Princess cruise ship from Vancouver to the Hawaiian Islands when he became ill with an appendicitis attack. The need was urgent for him to get to a hospital for surgery, the anchor said.
The Coast Guard began the rescue with a four-person crew, with McDonnell at the controls. She and another co-pilot performed the rescue. She explained her helicopter was flying at 300-400 feet above the ocean but intense fog shrouded the huge ship. “That’s unusual (not to be able to see such a huge ship),” she explained.
Her fellow rescue crew member, technician Phillip Moire rappelled down 75 feet to the top deck of the ship to gather Daniel in a basket while Katherine held her helicopter as steady as possible. They were able to get Daniel and his family to a hospital where doctors performed a successful appendectomy.
The crew gathered at Daniel’s hospital room for a reunion where Daniel’s mom thanked the crew.
McDonnell said she was thankful her first rescue mission was successful. Smiling she said, “It’s a pretty incredible feeling”.
McDonnell’s thirteen-year journey to becoming a Coast Guard helicopter pilot began with a scholarship to the US Coast Guard Academy where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering and played rugby for the Coast Guard team for four years. She will complete her tour of duty in 2029.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
Image 1 Caption: US Coast Guard Seach and Rescue crew from left: Lieutenant Mitchell Dow(co-pilot), AMT2 Leonid Marlynov, AST3 Phillip Moire, and Lieutenant Katherine McDonnell (co-pilot).
File Photo Provided
