A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer died Thursday from accidents he suffered whereas responding to a distressed mariner aboard a big vessel offshore of Washington state.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was deployed to the vessel as a part of a helicopter medical analysis staff, based on a U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Friday Instagram submit.
Jaggers was posthumously granted one of many nation’s highest awards for aerial flight.
“Our brother put his life on the road for somebody he had by no means met, as Coast Guard aircrews and rescue swimmers have carried out hundreds of occasions earlier than, answering the decision in order that he and his crew may save a stranger’s life,” USCG Rescue Swimmers mentioned within the Instagram submit.
“Sadly, Tyler misplaced his within the course of. He gave his life within the purest act of service: attempting to save lots of one other,” the submit continued.
On Feb. 27, Jaggers, who was primarily based on the Astoria Air Station in Oregon, responded to a medical emergency aboard the industrial motor vessel Momi Arrow, roughly 120 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Flattery, Washington, as a part of a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, based on a Coast Guard launch.
Throughout the rescue of a distressed mariner, he suffered essential accidents, the discharge says. The Coast Guard didn’t present details about the mariner, nor did it describe Jaggers’ accidents.
Jaggers was transported to Victoria Normal Hospital in British Columbia, Canada, for preliminary remedy, the discharge states. At that hospital, it was decided that he wouldn’t survive, the Instagram submit mentioned.
Jaggers was placed on life assist, and the Coast Guard offered plane to move him again to the U.S., based on a Tuesday assertion on the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmers Affiliation’s web site.
He was subsequently transferred to Madigan Military Medical Heart at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington, the discharge reads.
Jaggers joined the Coast Guard in January 2022 and served at Air Station Astoria since April 2024, based on the discharge.
He was meritoriously superior to petty officer second class in a ceremony attended by his household and fellow Air Station Astoria crew members, the discharge says, and he was awarded posthumously with the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“He demonstrated extraordinary heroism within the face of hazard, upholding the best requirements of braveness and excellence for Coast Guard operations,” Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday mentioned in a press release to Army Occasions.
“We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save lots of others,” Lunday continued.
A Distinguished Flying Cross, licensed by Congress in 1926, is likely one of the nation’s highest awards for heroism or extraordinary achievement whereas collaborating in an aerial flight.
The Coast Guard is investigating the reason for his accidents in the course of the rescue, the discharge states.
Cristina Stassis is a reporter protecting tales surrounding the protection business, nationwide safety, navy/veteran affairs and extra. She beforehand labored as an editorial fellow for Protection Information in 2024 the place she assisted the newsroom in breaking information throughout Sightline Media Group.
