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Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aircrews medically evacuated three hunters in two separate inland cases near Kotzebue this week.

On Monday, an aircrew forward deployed to Kotzebue medevaced a 38-year-old hunting guide and his hunting partner from 110 miles northeast of Kotzebue. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District Command Center got a call at 9:16 a.m. requesting help transporting two men in a hunting party after one became sick.

Alaska State Troopers could not land and recover the patient because of flooding on the runway. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center and Air National Guard were also requested, but could not take the mission because of current tasking and weather concerns. The two hunters were located, hoisted, and safely transported to Kotzebue for further medical evaluation.

On Tuesday at 8:27 a.m., 17th District Command Center personnel received information about a 62-year-old hunter reportedly experiencing potential symptoms of a heart attack about 100 miles north of Kotzebue. A Coast Guard aircrew landed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter near the hunting party, took the patient aboard, and transported him to awaiting medical personnel in Kotzebue.