Tucson Airmen Help Rescue Sailor Near California Coast

TUCSON — When a sailor fell from his cargo ship off the coast of San Francisco, a rescue team from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson was there to help.

The 39-year-old Chinese sailor fell 33 feet from his cargo ship Aug. 28 and was critically injured, sparking a rescue mission from the U.S. Coast Guard and Air National Guard. The ship was on its way to Stockton, Calif.

The Coast Guard initially responded to calls for medical attention and eventually alerted the 55th Squadron from Davis-Monthan once it became clear the man needed to be evacuated by air, the base announced in a news release.

“They reached out to our crew, who are trained in over-water missions and long-range refueling,” said said Captain Mark Ross, a pilot for the squadron.

The 55th squadron immediately set off for San Francisco. The injured man was lifted to Stanford Medical Center within a matter of hours. He is in stable condition, according to the news release.

“We saved the Chinese mariner’s life,” said said Maj. Brendan Sullivan, also a pilot.“He is now at higher level care in San Francisco and able to get the medical attention he needs.”