NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A woman from Neptune Beach, who is now an U.S. Navy aircraft commander lieutenant, helped rescue six Papua New Guinea locals on June 30 from a small land mass off the coast of Carteret Island in Papua New Guinea.
Lt. Julie Froslee and her crew flew to the area, where access to the island was poor, so one of her crewmembers hoisted himself down on a sandbar and found the survivors, to whom he gave medical aid.
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A rescue basket and hoist was then dropped from the helicopter, and the group of people, including an 18-month-old infant, were pulled into the HSC-21 helicopter.
Those rescued were then flown to Buka Airport in Bougainville, where they were reunited with their family and are expected to make a full recovery.
The extent of their injuries were not given.
Froslee and her crew were onboard the USNS Mercy, which is visiting Papua New Guinea for Exercise Pacific Partnership 2015.
"I joined the Navy and became a helicopter pilot to be able to save lives and do humanitarian work," Froslee said. "For me, this is job fulfillment. I hope no one finds themselves is such a situation that they would need to be rescued, but I feel honored to be called upon when they are."