The information revealed that a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter aircrew along with a HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak located and rescued two people in the water after abandoning the Intrepid, a 32-foot aluminum vessel, in North Bristol Bay Saturday as it was taking on water. Among the two rescued one is
Shawn Elliott, 27, had contacted Coast Guard reporting his vessel was taking water over the railings and he along with Nick Kailukiak, 31, were going to abandon ship.
After receiving the information the Coast Guard command center immediately launched the Jayhawk and diverted the Hercules aircrew which was conducting a logistics flight from Cordova. The Hercules was first reached the spot locating the two people in Nushagak Bay with their survival suits on.
As the Jayhawk aircrew arrived on scene they safely hoisted the two fishermen and transferred them to Dillingham where local emergency medical services were waiting. Lt. Herbert Law, command duty officer for the Seventeenth Coast Guard District, said that as they abandon the ship on their own which saves time and allowed the Coast Guard to arrive on scene and conduct a successful rescue.
