Navy helicopter crew members saves tourist

Two members of the ‘Red Lions’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 15 were out hiking in Honolulu, Hawaii, US when they were called upon to provide emergency medical care to a Japanese tourist.

Chief Aviation Aircrewman Jason Lessley and Aviation Aircrewman 2nd Class Hunter Price were out on the Diamond Head Trail on 12 July when they spotted the 52-year-old female tourist in clear distress. Both sailors have extensive emergency response training and Lessley is a former emergency medical technician, so the pair were able to treat the woman for heat exhaustion. However, when they attempted to escort the woman down the trail she became weak and disorientated. The crewmen then contacted local authorities.

Local firefighters hiked up the trail and decided that the woman needed a medevac to a local hospital. The sailors remained with the woman another half an hour for the helicopter and downloaded a translator on their phones so they could start basic communication with the woman.

Lessley praised Price, saying that he had performed his emergency medical duties ‘flawlessly’ and that hours of training for a similar situation had paid off. Price added: “I’m glad to know we can make a difference, not only to the people we serve next to, but also to someone we have never met. When we are required to perform our job, it’s usually because something bad has happened. It’s in that moment that the training you think you’ll never use comes into action like it is second nature.”