Munro News Post

Coast Guard makes high wind cliff rescue on Unalaska Island

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Munro rescued a 39-year-old Dutch Harbor man while fighting more than 45 mph winds from a cliff face on Unalaska Island 22-miles southwest of Dutch Harbor at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. Dan Young reportedly fell down a cliff face injuring both legs. He then activated the emergency feature on his personal locating device alerting Coast Guard and local authorities of his exact location. Munro, conducting maritime safety and security patrols in the Bering Sea, immediately launched the Dolphin and the crew successfully hoisted Young and his dog.
“The winds were what made this rescue difficult. We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to get in and rescue him,” said Lt. Jason Smith, HH-65 aircraft commander from Kodiak. “As we came in for the hoist everything just seemed to line up and the rescue went great.” Young was transferred to awaiting emergency personnel at Dutch Harbor Airport at 6:40 p.m. The Cutter Munro is a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Kodiak, Alaska.