The Coast Guard at 11:30 a.m. Monday medevaced a 23-year-old woman experiencing anaphylactic shock symptoms aboard the American Constellation cruise ship near Tracy Arm.
Lt.j.g. Trevor Layman, Sector Juneau command duty officer, said in a news release that the mountainous terrain within Tracy Arm, which is about 40 nautical miles southeast of Juneau, posed challenges communicating with the cruise ship by VHF radio.
“Despite that, we were able to conduct the medevac efficiently and get the patient to a higher level of medical care,” Layman said.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew airlifted the woman, and transported her to awaiting emergency medical services in Juneau, according to the Coast Guard.
Watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received the initial report at 10:11 a.m. from the Alaska State Troopers. Air Station Sitka helicopter had been engaged in a training flight when watchstanders diverted them to the scene.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
