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U.S. Navy Rescues Gravely Ill Hiker From Papua New Guinea Jungle

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080811-12
Release Date: 8/11/2008 2:35:00 PM

By Lt. Arwen Chisholm, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (NNS) -- An Australian hiker is recovering in the intensive care unit of the naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) after being rescued from a remote mountain range in Papua New Guinea Aug. 8.

Debra Paver, a lawyer from Melbourne, had been hiking the Kokoda Trail in the Owen Stanley Mountain Range of Papua New Guinea as part of the Kokoda Spirit tour group. She became ill and was taken to Alola Village where she experienced seizures and was in and out of consciousness.

The crew of Mercy responded at the request of the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. At 1:40 p.m. an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 21, based out of San Diego, departed off the flight deck of the Mercy for Alola Village.

"There were clouds everywhere. We flew at 10,000 feet just to be clear of the clouds," said U.S. Navy Lt. Beth Dassler, the helicopter aircraft commander. "We made a couple of passes over the landing site, looking for a break in the clouds. When we found one we went for it."

After assessing the helicopter-landing zone, the aircrew landed on a small patch of land in a dense fog bank, 6,000 feet up in the mountains.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Justin Foxworth was the first to arrive by Paver's side.

"She was awake but not coherent," said Foxworth. "We transported her to the helo to get her an IV."

The aircrew flew Paver to the Mercy, arriving at 3:20 p.m. on the ship. She was transported to casualty receiving where her condition was further evaluated.

"We received the patient aboard the ship and immediately took the proper steps to take care of her. The medical team aboard the Mercy took action based on the training they have received and their professional expertise. All the hard work paid off because the patient is responding positively to the treatment we are providing," said U.S. Navy Capt. Peter Linz, director of Medical Operations aboard the Mercy.

Paver is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of the Mercy. Within 24 hours, her condition improved from critical to stable condition.

"I am feeling a bit better," said Paver. "I couldn't be happier. I am very happy because I was quite sick and I am glad I am here."

The hospital ship Mercy is anchored off the coast of Port Moresby in support of Pacific Partnership 2008, a humanitarian civic assistance mission to Southeast Asia and Oceania. The medical, dental, and civic action programs are coordinated with the government of Papua New Guinea and partner nations, such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and India, to assist and provide local communities with a wide range of services.

For more news from Pacific Partnership 2008, visit www.navy.mil/local/PP08/.