Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
Wayag Island is one of the Indonesian islands within the Raja Ampat district in the province of West Papua. The island is known for its beautiful atolls and amazing underwater life. Unfortunately, a Singapore member needed field rescue from the island after falling from a steep slope and sustaining a severe injury to his right ankle. Global Rescue medical operations personnel were contacted and provided guidance on managing the injury. Regrettably, the member’s symptoms did not subside and a field rescue using a speed boat was initiated due to the remoteness of the location and the need for medical intervention. The member was conveyed to Sorong Port onboard a high-powered speed boat and then transported via ground ambulance to a local hospital. The hospital took x-rays, and an orthopedic physician examined the member who was diagnosed with a distal fracture and partial ankle dislocation. He was fitted with a cast with a recommendation for surgery after the swelling subsided. He elected to undergo surgery after returning home.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A Malaysian member needed field rescue due to severe headache, nose bleeds, shortness of breath and fatigue while at Chukhung, a high-altitude village (15,518 feet/4,730 meters) serving trekkers and climbers in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Global Rescue medical operations personnel were contacted and confirmed the member had signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) as well as swollen, bleeding, painful boils on his lower body. Due to the severity of the member’s condition, a helicopter rescue was initiated to transport him to a hospital in Lukla. The member was evaluated at the hospital and diagnosed with AMS and an anal abscess. He was treated and released with antibiotics and pain medication.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A member from Uruguay needed a medical evacuation from Dingboche, Nepal to a medical facility capable of a higher level of care. Global Rescue medical operations personnel were notified that a member at a hotel near Mount Everest Base Camp started experiencing headache, nausea, fatigue, nasal congestion, cough, fever, difficulty of breathing and an elevated heart rate. The member’s medical history included hypothyroidism, a condition that can increase metabolism with symptoms that include rapid or irregular heartbeat. During an initial examination at a local health clinic, medical staff diagnosed the member with a respiratory infection and HAPE. Global Rescue medical operations doctors advised that the member’s condition warranted descent to a lower elevation and admission to a medical center capable of a high level of care and a recommendation for high flow oxygen. Global Rescue personnel initiated an airborne medical transport of the member to a hospital in Lukla where she arrived safely and was diagnosed with post-AMS status. After receiving treatment, the member’s condition improved sufficiently. She was discharged to her hotel where she continued her recovery before her return flight home.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member needed field rescue and medical evacuation following a snowboarding accident in Montafon, Austria. The teenage Global Rescue member – who is also part of the US SBX team, a type of snowboarding where competitors race side-by-side on a specially designed course – crashed and sustained a fractured jaw with a lacerated tongue. He was taken to a local medical facility where he was treated. The treating physician, however, recommended that the jaw fracture be surgically repaired at the member’s home hospital as soon as possible. Global Rescue medical personnel reviewed the medical incident records and concurred with the doctor’s assessment. Global Rescue operations team provided immediate flights and ground transportation for the member who safely arrived without incident at his home in Boston where he was met by family and quickly scheduled an appointment for surgery to repair his fractured jaw.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A Malaysian member trekking in Nepal contacted Global Rescue seeking help for his father who became ill in Namche Bazaar (11,286 feet/3,440 meters), a town in northeastern Nepal. The member was initially examined at a local clinic where he was diagnosed with HAPE. Global Rescue medical operations staff confirmed the assessment and recommended an airborne medical evacuation to a hospital at lower altitude for medical management. The member was safely transported to a hospital in Lukla where he was evaluated and diagnosed with post-AMS and later released to continue his recovery and return home.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member on a ski vacation needed airborne medical evacuation after slipping on an ice patch, hitting his head and losing consciousness during a trip to the mountains of Ischgl, Austria. After the member came to, he complained of soreness and headache. He was evaluated by local medics at the ski resort. Global Rescue was contacted, and a helicopter was arranged to take him to a hospital Tirol. Following a medical examination that included a CT scan of the member’s head and x-rays of his shoulders, both showed unremarkable results. The member was admitted overnight for further evaluation and was discharged from the hospital the next day.
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Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member needed a field rescue after experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain on the left side of his chest during a boat trip in the Amazonas region of Brazil. Doses of aspirin alleviated some discomfort, but the pain persisted overnight and into the morning. Global Rescue medical operations initiated a field rescue. Unfortunately, no float planes or helicopter transports were available. Ultimately, ground transport was arranged and successfully conveyed the member to an airport where a cardiologist met with him for an examination and evaluation. The physician accompanied the member to a hospital in Manaus. Following an array of diagnostic tests the member was treated for hypertension, yet the cause of his chest pains was inconclusive based on the test results. He made an appointment with his cardiologist in the U.S. and based on his improving condition, felt confident to return home.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
Surfing can be thrilling, but it comes with risks. The most common injuries are caused by contact with the surfer’s own board or someone else’s board. In the case of one member from the U.S. who was taking a surfing lesson in Costa Rica, the culprit for his injury was landing head first on the sand. His fall led to severe neck and head pain and prompted local authorities to transport him by aircraft to a nearby hospital. The member was examined and diagnosed with hangman’s fracture, a bilateral fracture of cervical vertebrae 2 and 3. He was deemed fit to fly via air ambulance and, due to the nature and severity of his injury, Global Rescue operations handled his transport from the hospital in San Rafael, Costa Rica, to a medical center in Colorado where he continued his treatment and recovery.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A member from New Zealand needed a medical evacuation following a skiing accident resulting in a severe ankle injury diagnosed as a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was advised by the treating orthopedic doctor to have immediate surgery. Global Rescue was contacted and arranged for the member to return to his home hospital of choice in a commercial airline business class seat to be able to elevate his injured leg. He was also provided with a wheelchair and luggage assistance. The member arrived at his destination safely where he followed up with his local physician for surgery and to continue his recovery.
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Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member was paragliding in Colombia when she experienced a rough landing and injured her ankle. She was examined and diagnosed with a broken ankle, specifically a fracture of the left tibial malleolus, with a recommendation for surgery to repair the damage. Global Rescue confirmed that the local treatment team would not be able to perform the surgery for a couple of days and recommended the member return immediately to her home for her surgery. Global Rescue arranged for an expedited return flight with business class seating and ground transportation. She arrived safely back at home in Washington where she followed up with her orthopedic physician for surgery.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member needed medical evacuation to a hospital with a higher level of care following a paragliding accident in Mexico. He reported lower back pain but following an initial medical examination, physicians diagnosed him with mild traumatic brain injury and possible damage to several vertebrae. Global Rescue physicians reviewed the case and concurred with the recommendation. The member was successfully transported to another hospital where he was admitted overnight following a diagnosis of a burst fracture, a condition where the vertebra is crushed in all directions. The treating physician determined surgery was not immediately needed. The member was discharged the next day with a back brace to be worn for six to eight weeks for support until further evaluation was done in his home country. Global Rescue provided ongoing ground transportation for him during his remaining days in Mexico until his return flight home.

