Submitted by Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

A Search and Rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island transported a 65-year-old woman suffering from severe pain from Lopez Island on Sunday, Oct. 18.

The SAR crew got the call for the medical evacuation after 1 p.m. The crew landed at Lopez Island Airport after 2 p.m. and transferred the patient onto the helicopter. The original plan was to take the patient to St. Joseph’s in Bellingham but, because of weather conditions, they took her to Skagit Medical Center where they transferred her to higher care.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 48 total missions throughout Washington State this year, including 35 rescues, four searches and nine medical evacuations.