Training mission results in life-saving rescue

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
If not for a lot coincidences and a keen Air Force Reserve helicopter crew from the 920th Rescue Wing, 66-year-old Floridian Russell Alger would not be alive today.

Several miles off of the coast of Daytona Beach, Fla., Lt. Col. Paul Nevius and his crew were piloting an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter back to Patrick Air Force Base when they spotted a 21-foot boat moving up the Atlantic Ocean at full-throttle with no one aboard.

"It was not our intent to be anywhere close to that position," said Colonel Nevius. 

Bad weather on their original course to Key West sent the crew north to Gainesville, where the crew spotted the unmanned vessel. In addition to launching their own search for the boater, they amassed a large-scale search among Air Force Reserve and local Coast Guard units along wand the Daytona Sheriff's department. 

Two additional Air Force Reserve helicopter crews preparing for nighttime training missions were sent to help, but not before 920th maintenance personnel had to reconfigure the aircraft for the real live-saving mission. Five pararescuemen preparing for yet another training mission also joined in.

"If there was someone out there, he needed to be found," said Master Sgt. Chris Seinkner, 920th pararescueman.

With only a few hours of daylight left, using the previous helicopter crew's search pattern, the two helicopters on scene flew to the courseline and began working toward each other.

"You could only see the shore in between the 5-foot waves," said pararescueman Seinkner during their aerial search.

Suddenly, the man was spotted and the crew made a B-line toward him. 

"We saw the guy, and 30 seconds later we were in the water," said Sergeant Seinkner.

He and pararescueman Staff Sgt. Kacee Holmes jumped out of the helicopter, plunged into the choppy ocean water and swam toward Mr. Alger.

"He was waving his arms and splashing in the water," said Sergeant Holmes. "He was excited to see us."

"I took off my life preserver and put it around the guy," said Sergeant Seinkner.

Combat search and rescue flight engineer, Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Schwarz, lowered the hoist to the PJs.

Sergeant Holmes then put Mr. Algers in the hoist and gave a 'thumbs up' signal to Sergeant Schwarz, who pulled them up to safety.

The two pararescuemen readied their life-saving skills while the crew transported Mr. Alger to Daytona International Airport, where he refused medical treatment. He was in good condition upon his release.

"Because of the effort of a lot of our own professionals, a very lucky 66-year-old Floridian is alive today," said 920th Rescue Wing Commander, Col. Steve Kirkpatrick.

"I truly appreciate the efforts of all involved," said the colonel. "You have all embodied the motto, 'these things we do that others may live,' and made the entire community proud."