U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter assigned to the 129th Rescue Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard hovers over a fishing vessel to medically evacuate an ill fisherman during a rescue operation, 400 miles off the coast of San Diego, Nov. 8, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)

A team from California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing successfully saved a U.S. Air Force veteran who experienced stroke-like symptoms during a chartered fishing trip off the coast of San Diego early Friday morning.

“We value individual life,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bevan Hart, who served as the search and rescue duty officer helping coordinate the mission. “We’ll go to significant effort to bring individuals back safely.”

The 79-year-old veteran, who is now in recovery, was with his nephew and other fishermen who sent out a call for medical assistance. Fortunately, the nephew had medical training and was able to keep his uncle in stable condition until help arrived.

According to a news release, the 129th Operations Group quickly responded to the emergency call, and launched a team of pararescuemen, two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and an HC-130J Combat King II to airlift the patient from the fishing vessel to a San Diego area hospital.

Once the rescue units located the vessel, a team of pararescuemen hoisted down and conducted a neurological assessment of the patient.

“They were happy to see us,” said a pararescueman with the 131st Rescue Squadron. “That’s why we joined this career field, to save lives and help people on their worst days.”

The boat itself created a challenge for the crew to conduct hoist operations because of how confined the space was.

“You have to be precise with that [hoist] device, loading the patient off the boat and your team,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Schaffer, a special missions aviator who operated the hoist.

U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter assigned with the 129th Rescue Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard hover over a fishing vessel to medically evacuate an ill fisherman during a rescue operation, approximately 400 miles off the coast of San Diego, Nov. 8, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)

Schaffer and the crew were able to utilize a 70-foot hoist to successfully airlift the veteran and his nephew onto a helicopter, where they provided oxygen and monitored his vital signs during the two hour flight back to the mainland.

“It’s incredibly important that we have the capability to conduct civil search rescue,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Taylor Franklin, an HC-130J co-pilot with the 130th Rescue Squadron. Franklin’s squad helped make the mission possible by providing helicopter air-to-air refueling support over the Pacific Ocean. “I’ve only been back from (pilot) training for six months and I’ve been on three search and rescue missions. It feels good to execute what we train for.”