A tragic incident involving a REACH medical helicopter off the coast of Catalina Island, California, led to the loss of three lives, including a woman identified as 45-year-old Catalina Hernandez. Local media outlets have reported that Hernandez was being transported to a medical facility following a severe allergic reaction.
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On Wednesday, September 30, at approximately 7:46 p.m., emergency services were alerted to the crash, which occurred roughly 200 yards from the island’s shore. The helicopter, an EC-135 model, was en route to the mainland when it suffered difficulties shortly after takeoff. Chief Anthony Marrone of the Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed that five individuals were aboard at the time of the incident.
Emergency responders were on the scene within minutes and began treatment for two survivors—a medic and a man later identified as Hernandez’s son. Both were successfully airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, where they are reported to be in stable condition. Unfortunately, efforts to revive the other two passengers, a male pilot and a female nurse, were unsuccessful, and they were declared dead at the crash site.
Search and rescue operations commenced promptly, with the U.S. Coast Guard conducting extensive searches over a 20-hour period for the last missing passenger. Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that this individual was female but withheld further details at that time.
The body of the missing person was ultimately located on Thursday, October 1, at around 5:44 p.m. Divers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department discovered the body within the wreckage of the downed helicopter, which had fallen into the ocean shortly after taking off. Subsequent reports confirmed that the body was indeed that of Catalina Hernandez.
Hernandez, originally from Avalon, was reported to have suffered an allergic reaction to shrimp prior to the flight. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the helicopter went down with Hernandez still secured to the gurney. Tragically, her son, who was on board and sustained broken bones during the crash, is currently recovering in hospital.
The late Catalina Hernandez had emigrated from Mexico to the United States in 1999 alongside her sister. Family and friends are coming to terms with the loss, and community members have expressed an outpouring of support for those affected by this devastating incident. “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, as well as the survivors and everyone affected by this tragedy,” Sheriff Luna remarked during a media conference.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it will be conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The U.S. Coast Guard is also involved in the inquiry, aiming to determine the cause of this unfortunate event.
As investigations continue, authorities have not yet provided additional comments. The focus now remains on supporting the grieving families and ensuring the wellbeing of the survivors in the aftermath of this heart-wrenching tragedy.