Coast Guard Airlifts 81-Year-Old Passenger From Cruise Ship Near Puerto Rico
An 81-year-old cruise passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Puerto Rico after suffering a medical emergency aboard a ship traveling through the Atlantic Ocean. This successful rescue followed rough seas that complicated an earlier effort to get him medical attention.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the rescue took place approximately 150 nautical miles (173 miles) north of Puerto Rico, following two days of communication with the vessel.
The passenger was aboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride when the emergency began on Oct. 24, hundreds of miles from the nearest available helicopter rescue operation.
The ship eventually changed course toward Puerto Rico, where a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew successfully evacuated the man and a ship’s nurse on Oct. 26.
Rough Seas Complicate Initial Rescue Plans
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The emergency was first reported to Bermuda’s Rescue Coordination Centre on the morning of Oct. 24, when the Star Pride was approximately 140 nautical miles northwest of the island.
According to the Bermuda Department of Marine and Ports Services, authorities initially arranged for the passenger to be transferred to a pilot boat later that evening. A local hospital was also providing medical advice to the ship’s doctor.
However, the weather presented a serious obstacle.
The captain and Bermuda pilots determined that transferring the passenger, a family member, and medical personnel between vessels would be too dangerous in the anticipated wind and sea conditions.
The crew had to make a choice.
The captain ultimately decided to head toward Puerto Rico, where a helicopter evacuation would be possible if the passenger’s condition required it.
Helicopter Crew Carries Out Rescue Near Puerto Rico
The Coast Guard’s Sector San Juan received an evacuation request around 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, when the ship was approximately 900 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico. Crews remained in contact with the vessel throughout the weekend while monitoring the situation.
On Oct. 26, an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen launched at approximately 3 p.m. to meet the approaching cruise ship. The aircrew used a hoist to lift the passenger and a ship’s nurse aboard the helicopter. Video released by the Coast Guard shows the operation unfolding above the vessel.
Both were transported to Centro Médico Hospital in San Juan, where the passenger could receive more advanced medical care. As of Oct. 30, the Coast Guard has not yet disclosed the nature of his medical emergency or provided an update on his condition.
“Air Station Borinquen and Sector San Juan train relentlessly to mitigate the risks associated with demanding Coast Guard missions like long-range medical evacuations,” said Cmdr. Scott Verhage, operations officer at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, in a statement released by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Star Pride was sailing toward San Juan on a voyage that departed Boston on Oct. 20. The rescue ultimately required coordination across several days and hundreds of miles of open ocean before the passenger could be transferred safely to a hospital.
There are currently no updates on the status of the passenger’s condition.
