News Release

HONOLULU — A U.S. Coast Guardsman from Air Station Barbers Point will be featured in a cable documentary, which is scheduled to air Wednesday.

The Discover Channel documentary “Mayday! Bering Sea” tells of the Alaska Ranger, a 189-foot fishing vessel that sunk in the icy waters of the Bering Sea, March 23, 2008. Petty Officer 2^ndClass Abram Heller, a native of Worland, Wyo., was part of the rescue efforts to save 42 fishermen who went into the water after the Alaska Ranger sank.

Heller, an aviation survival technician who was part of the helicopter aircrew that responded to the distressed fishermen, was lowered from the helicopter into frigid waters.  He sent victims up to the helicopter via a rescue hoist basket and gave up his own spot in the helicopter so that another survivor could be saved. Heller is credited with saving eight lives and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his acts of heroism.

In total, crews from Air Station Kodiak and the Coast Guard Cutter Munro rescued 20 Alaska Ranger crewmembers in 10–foot seas and 25-mph winds.

Please click the links below for video of the rescue:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=500408

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=434010

For more information about the documentary, please visit:

http://www.uscg.mil/publicaffairs/MOPIC/upcoming.asp

For more information or to request an interview with Heller, contact Seaman Stanley Guzman at 808-535-3230.