SAR medical evacuation conducted over the baltic sea by Polish naval aviation

The patient was winched from a vessel at sea and transported to shore, where they were handed over to an emergency medical services team in Słupsk. The operation was completed under standard SAR (search and rescue) readiness procedures, with a rapid response time consistent with maritime emergency protocols.

Rapid response under sar alert conditions

The W-3WARM Anakonda helicopter was scrambled following a medical emergency report from a vessel operating in the Polish search and rescue region of responsibility in the Baltic Sea.

The entire mission, from tasking to patient handover on land, was completed within several tens of minutes, reflecting the high readiness level maintained by Polish naval aviation SAR crews.

According to warrant officer staff sergeant mariner Piotr Skalski:

- 11th time in 2026, the crew of the W-3WARM helicopter from the Gdyńska Brygada Lotnictwa Marynarki Wojennej was tasked with a medical assistance operation over the Baltic Sea. On Monday, 11 May, the SAR crew evacuated a man requiring immediate medical assistance. Within several tens of minutes, the patient was transported ashore and handed over to the emergency medical services team in Słupsk. This was the 837th operation in the history of naval aviators and the 456th person who received assistance.

Sustained SAR activity in the baltic region

The W-3WARM Anakonda remains a core asset of the Polish naval aviation search and rescue system, providing 24/7 operational readiness for maritime emergencies.

These helicopters are routinely tasked with medical evacuations and rescue operations across the Polish SAR area of responsibility in the Baltic Sea. The sustained operational tempo observed in 2026 reflects both increased maritime traffic and expanding offshore activity in the region, including commercial shipping routes and offshore energy infrastructure support operations.