Coast Guard personnel perform challenging rescue of two tourists following accident on Carambola Zip Line on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Photo Credit: SCREENSHOT/VIC
ST. CROIX — A high-speed collision on the Carambola Zipline platform in St. Croix resulted in the medical evacuation of two injured individuals on Friday, executed by the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
The rescued individuals, Jason Bomar, 58, and Jeanne Glidewell, 32, both U.S. citizens, sustained multiple injuries during the incident.
The Coast Guard said it was called into action following a request from St. Croix Rescue, as the complexities of the location made access challenging. The zip-line platform is situated approximately 200 feet above ground, surrounded by dense terrain and heavy vegetation, which necessitated specialized evacuation efforts.
Upon receiving the request, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan coordinated the launch of a rescue helicopter from Air Station Borinquen. Local rescue personnel, including the St. Croix Rescue team and the V.I. Fire Service, provided initial first aid and stabilized the injured parties, preparing them for the hoist operation.
Lt. David Tirado Tolosa, the aircraft commander for the medevac, spoke of the collaborative effort involved. “This case highlights the importance of teamwork,” he said. “It was a complex location to hoist two injured persons, but our crew and the local rescue personnel did an amazing job stabilizing them, which allowed us to conduct the hoists safely. We are very glad to have transported these patients to receive the medical care they required.”
According to the release, on arriving at the scene, the Coast Guard helicopter crew deployed a rescue swimmer to the platform. Using a rescue litter, the crew conducted multiple hoists to bring the injured man and woman safely aboard the helicopter. The rescue swimmer was then retrieved, and the aircraft headed to its next destination.
The patients were transported to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upon landing, they were met by Emergency Medical Service personnel, who facilitated their further transfer to Centro Medico Hospital for additional treatment.
