Coast Guard rescue swimmer dies from accidents sustained throughout maritime mission

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 post.

Jaggers was posthumously granted one of many nation’s highest awards for aerial flight.

“Our brother put his life on the line for someone he had never met, as Coast Guard aircrews and rescue swimmers have done thousands of times before, answering the call so that he and his crew could save a stranger’s life,” USCG Rescue Swimmers mentioned within the Instagram publish.

“Unfortunately, Tyler lost his in the process. He gave his life in the purest act of service: trying to save another,” the publish continued.

On Feb. 27, Jaggers, who was based mostly 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 release.

During 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 General Hospital in British Columbia, Canada, for preliminary therapy, the discharge states. At that hospital, it was decided that he wouldn’t survive, the Instagram publish mentioned.

Jaggers was placed on life help, and the Coast Guard supplied plane to move him again to the U.S., based on a Tuesday statement on the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmers Association’s web site.

He was subsequently transferred to Madigan Army Medical Center 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 in the face of danger, upholding the highest standards of courage and excellence for Coast Guard operations,” Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday mentioned in an announcement.

“We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save others,” Lunday continued.

A Distinguished Flying Cross, approved by Congress in 1926, is among the nation’s highest awards for heroism or extraordinary achievement whereas taking part in an aerial flight.

The Coast Guard is investigating the reason for his accidents throughout the rescue, the discharge states.