NAV EX 1st QTR 2018 NavEx 1st Qtr 2018 - Draft 7a | Page 9

E JUST CRASH?”
place to perform rescue
ey and Chas Hague
Photo by Lynn Murray
rict 95 were the first on the scene and were able to execute a rescue of a passenger from the foundering aircraft.
the sinking aircraft. Bridget provided first aid and
stabilized the victim, and he was transferred to
shore by the Auxiliary crew where he was taken by
ambulance to the hospital.
Unfortunately the other passenger as well as the pilot
eventually succumbed to their injuries.
080 and crew stood by to assist recovery operations
and the crash investigation. PATCOM Bruce Fuhrmann,
assisted by watchstanders Barbara Fuhrmann and
Charles Brennan, coordinated Auxiliary activities with
the Regular Coast Guard, the Winnebago County
Sheriff’s Department, and National Transportation
Safety Board investigators. Bruce obtained an
extension on 080’s orders so they could continue.
According to Tim, “Our Coast Guard training really
paid off as our patrol was made up of crew from
two different divisions, some of us unfamiliar with
the boat and the waters—faced with an unexpected
OR express
emergency! We worked together perfectly with
no problems. It was great Coast G uard Auxiliary
teamwork.”
Russ added, “We had a coxswain and three crew
members that had not worked together before (I
worked once with Greg) on a boat that was unfamiliar
to three of the crew. The training in procedures, the
time spent in doing a boat check to familiarize all
with the locations of the equipment, the time spent
in routine repetitive tasks insured that the crew could
and did function in a time of stress and urgency. We
saved a life because we practice all the time.”
Coxswain Hoganson, Crew Timothy and Bridget
Darrey and Gregory Bergner, as well as PATCOM
Bruce Fuhrman and Watchstanders Barbara
Fuhrmann and Charles Brennan, were awarded the
Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation at
District 9 D-Train in October, 2017.
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