Coast Guard, Carambola Resort, St. Rescued Two Injured in Zipline Accident on St. Croix

ST. CROIX—St. A high-speed crash on the Carambola Zipline platform on St. Croix resulted in the medical evacuation of two injured people Friday, who were executed by the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.

The rescued people, Jason Bomar (58) and Jeanne Glidewell (32), both US citizens, suffered multiple injuries during the incident.

The Coast Guard said the St. He said the action was taken at the request of St. Croix Rescue. The zip-line platform is located approximately 60 meters above the ground, surrounded by dense terrain and dense vegetation, requiring special evacuation efforts.

Upon receipt of the request, watchmen at Coast Guard Sector San Juan coordinated the launch of a rescue helicopter from Borinquen Air Station. St. Local rescue personnel, including St. Croix Rescue and the VI Fire Department, provided initial first aid and stabilized the injured, preparing them for the removal operation.

Lt. David Tirado Tolosa, aircraft commander of the medical evacuation, spoke of the collaborative efforts involved. “This incident highlights the importance of teamwork,” he said. “It was a complicated place to lift two casualties, but our crew and local rescue personnel did a great job stabilizing them, allowing us to hoist them safely. We are delighted to be able to transport these patients to receive the medical care they need.”

When the Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene, they sent a rescue swimmer to the platform, according to the statement. Using a rescue stretcher, the crew performed multiple lifts to transport the injured man and woman safely to the helicopter. The rescue swimmer was then rescued and the aircraft departed for its next destination.

The patients were transported to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When they landed, they were met by Emergency Medical Service personnel who facilitated their transfer to Centro Medico Hospital for additional treatment.