CONTACT:
Colonel Kevin Jordan: (603) 271-3128
Sergeant Geoffrey Pushee: (603) 271-3127
December 13, 2019

CONCORD, NH – Sergeant Geoffrey Pushee has received the prestigious Sikorsky Aircraft Rescue Award for his skills and courage while participating in a lifesaving mission aboard a Sirkorsky helicopter. Pushee was honored at the NH Fish and Game Commission’s meeting at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters in Concord, NH, on December 11.

“On behalf of the citizens of the State of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, we extend our sincere gratitude to Sergeant Pushee for his professionalism, exemplary performance under extremely stressful circumstances, and his dedication to pushing himself above and beyond the call of duty,” said Fish and Game Law Enforcement Chief Colonel Kevin Jordan.

On August 26, 2019, Sergeant Pushee was participating in the oral board interviews of prospective Conservation Officer trainees when the District Three Office received information concerning a 911 call regarding a medical emergency in progress near the summit of Owl’s Head Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire. Due to the remote location of the victim and the severity of the situation, a request for help was sent to the Army National Guard helicopter unit to expedite the extraction and transport of the patient to Dartmouth Hospital for treatment.

With a limited number of Conservation Officers who are trained to accompany the crews in these Blackhawks, it was fortunate that Sergeant Pushee was available to fly immediately. Sergeant Pushee is considered one of the more qualified officers for this type of mission.

Within an hour of the first 911 call, Pushee and this crew had located the victim on the mountainside and successfully picked up him and his wife using a penetrator cable and began the direct flight to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. During this emergency transport, the medical team on board the helicopter, along with Sergeant Pushee, worked desperately to save the life of the hiker. Sergeant Pushee assisted with the performance of emergency CPR for the duration of this flight across the state to Dartmouth.

The victim had a history of prior heart problems and despite the heroic efforts of Pushee, the helicopter crew, and the medical staff at Dartmouth Hospital, the victim lost his life.

“The act of performing continuous CPR while in midflight on a helicopter racing to a medical facility with a close family member aboard creates a level of stress for an officer that is, quite frankly, immeasurable,” said Jordan.

Jordan also commended Pushee for going above and beyond the call of duty. “Sergeant Pushee did an outstanding job that day and we here at New Hampshire Fish and Game are very proud of his actions, skills, and courage.”

To learn more about the Sikorsky Aircraft Rescue Award, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/sikorsky/customer-awards.html.