hist2004
06-20-2004, 10:55 AM
In 1996, on Easter night, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center contacted the Navy SEALs to request assistance in the rescue of an injured man who was stranded on his boat off Fanning Island, about 800 miles south of Hawaii.
Since Fanning Island is 200 miles from the nearest landing strip, it would require a rescue team that could parachute in, have medical training to treat the injured man, and be able to operate his small boat. Four Navy SEALs were selected and flown to the site. Each SEAL carried 50 pounds of medical supplies and provisions when they parachuted to the lagoon where the boat was anchored.
The SEAL with medical training treated the man's wound, which was a result of a fish hook puncture and had become badly infected. Since the island was too short to land a plane on and too far out to fly by helicopter to Hawaii, they had to sail the man's boat to Christmas Island, 200 miles away.
After 36 hours of treatment, the infection was still spreading in the man's leg. With his condition getting worse, the SEALs contacted the Coast Guard for additional medical supplies to be air dropped to them before they reached Christmas Island. Army doctors flew in to Christmas Island to be ready to treat the man when the SEALs arrived. Strong winds and heavy seas slowed their progress, but finally the SEALs made it. The Army doctors were able to treat the wound, and the mission was reported a huge success. If the SEALs hadn't been able to reach the man so quickly, there would have been a very different outcome.
Regards,
Hist2004
Since Fanning Island is 200 miles from the nearest landing strip, it would require a rescue team that could parachute in, have medical training to treat the injured man, and be able to operate his small boat. Four Navy SEALs were selected and flown to the site. Each SEAL carried 50 pounds of medical supplies and provisions when they parachuted to the lagoon where the boat was anchored.
The SEAL with medical training treated the man's wound, which was a result of a fish hook puncture and had become badly infected. Since the island was too short to land a plane on and too far out to fly by helicopter to Hawaii, they had to sail the man's boat to Christmas Island, 200 miles away.
After 36 hours of treatment, the infection was still spreading in the man's leg. With his condition getting worse, the SEALs contacted the Coast Guard for additional medical supplies to be air dropped to them before they reached Christmas Island. Army doctors flew in to Christmas Island to be ready to treat the man when the SEALs arrived. Strong winds and heavy seas slowed their progress, but finally the SEALs made it. The Army doctors were able to treat the wound, and the mission was reported a huge success. If the SEALs hadn't been able to reach the man so quickly, there would have been a very different outcome.
Regards,
Hist2004