A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew safely completed the medevac of a 61-year old Filipino master from the Luna Spirit 150 miles southeast of Kodiak Island at about 10 a.m. Dec. 9.
Raul Sempio was hoisted from the 590-ft Panamanian-flagged vessel and flown to Kodiak where emergency medical personnel transported him to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center. The man was suffering from symptoms of a stroke. His condition was reported as stable.
Coast Guard personnel were contacted the evening of Dec. 9 by the crew of the Luna Spirit requesting the medevac for the master. An MH-60 helicopter from Kodiak was launched at 9 a.m. to conduct the medevac. A second MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, also from Kodiak, was launched to fly cover for the first helicopter crew and provide communications while offshore.
The Luna Spirit, a car carrier, was more than 500 miles southeast of Kodiak on a voyage from Los Angeles to Japan at the time of the request. They have resumed their original course.
Weather on scene was 23 mph winds from the southeast and sea swells up to 20 feet.