NEAH BAY –– A search and rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island evacuated an 89-year-old woman from a beach near Ozette and took her to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
The woman, who was not identified, was suffering from exhaustion and leg pain that prevented her from being able to stand or walk, her grandson said when he called for help at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Navy news release.
Initially, the search and rescue unit was unable to get to her location along the northern coast of the North Olympic Peninsula because of low clouds and heavy rain near Neah Bay, the Navy said.
The crew refueled at Sanderson Field in Shelton before traveling along the southern edge of the Olympic Mountains and flying 110 nautical miles to the woman and her grandson, the news release said.
The crew arrived on scene at 7:38 p.m., hoisted the woman and her grandson aboard the aircraft, and flew them to OMC.
The woman’s condition is not known. Hospitals will not provide statements on a patient’s condition without a name.
The rescue was one of two Tuesday night.
A second search and rescue crew left for an evacuation of an 84-year-old man from the Pasayten Wilderness in Okanogan County who was reportedly suffering from a loss of equilibrium.
The Navy search and rescue unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island.
The base has an agreement to assist Washington state with medical evacuations and search and rescue activities.
