California Air Guardsmen save life in Mexico

  • Published
MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. (AFPN) --  Air Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here conducted a successful medical evacuation of a U.S. citizen in La Paz, Mexico, Oct. 24 while Tropical Storm Paul brewed off the southern coast of the Baja Peninsula.

Responding to the call from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center based out of Langley Air Force Base, Va., the pararescue team comprised of three pararescuemen and one flight surgeon flew on a MC-130P Combat Shadow toprovide life-saving assistance to a critically injured 28-year-old male involved in an automobile accident in Mexico. 

The pararescue crew provided life saving medical aid for the duration of the three and a half hour flight to Moffett FAF. The crew flew over 2,000 miles on this mission while simultaneously avoiding Tropical Storm Paul. 

After the aircraft landed here in the afternoon, the patient was transferred by ambulance to the Valley Medical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif.

This rescue brings the total number of people saved by the 129th RQW to 558.

The primary mission of the 129th RQW is to train and be prepared to perform its wartime mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. In addition to its wartime mission, the unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civil agencies on state missions.

Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow tankers and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, the 129th has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including persons aboard ships in distress, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.