In the book I write about an incident in which a Jayhawk helicopter crew saves a dog along with human survivors after the sinking of a small fishing boat. Yesterday, Kodiak Coasties likely set a local record in canine rescue when they airlfted seven sled dogs (and two men) off the Godwin Glacier following the crash of a small private helicopter.

This video from the hoist cam nicely illustrates the collaboration among the crew that goes into dropping the rescue swimmer out of the aircraft—as well as that the swimmer’s role occasionally involves more hiking than swimming (no flippers today; instead he exits the aircraft clutching a pair of snowshoes).

I’d love to have seen footage of the dogs actually coming up on the hoist, but they certainly appear calm in this shot from inside the helo. Wouldn’t have wanted to see these Coasties have to try this same maneuver with seven high-strung beagles...