Coast Guard rescues two injured in zipline accident at Carambola Resort, St. Croix

ST. CROIX – A high-speed collision on the Carambola Zipline platform in St. Croix resulted in the medical evacuation of two injured individuals Friday, conducted 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 it acted after a request from St. Croix Rescue because the complexity of the site made access difficult. The zipline platform is approximately 200 feet above the ground and surrounded by dense terrain and heavy vegetation, necessitating specialized evacuation efforts.

After receiving the request, watchstanders from the San Juan Coast Guard Sector coordinated the launch of a rescue helicopter from Borinquen Airport. Local rescue personnel, including the St. Croix Rescue Team and VI Fire Department, provided initial first aid and stabilized the injured and prepared them for the lifting operation.

Lt. David Tirado Tolosa, the medevac aircraft commander, spoke of the joint effort involved. “This case highlights the importance of teamwork,” he said. “It was a complex location to lift two injured people, but our crew and local rescue personnel did a great job stabilizing them, allowing us to carry out the hoists safely. We are very pleased that we transported these patients to receive the medical care they needed.”

According to the release, upon arrival on scene, the Coast Guard helicopter crew dispatched a rescue swimmer to the platform. Using a rescue chair, the crew performed multiple hoists to bring the injured man and woman safely aboard the helicopter. The rescue swimmer was then picked up and the plane took off 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 Services personnel, who facilitated their onward transfer to Centro Medico Hospital for additional treatment.