Ever wondered what happens when a medical emergency arises miles away from land on a cruise ship? These pictures from some recent video footage released by the US Coast Guard will give you a good insight.
On 19th May, the Celebrity Eclipse, a Solstice-class cruise ship, was sailing the Pacific Ocean, a hundred miles off the northern Oregon coast. Out of the blue, a man aboard started experiencing stroke-like symptoms prompting the crew to raise the alarm.
Helicopter heroes
The US Coast Guard (USCG) sprang into action, demonstrating their precision and dedication in an environment far removed from the comforts of a hospital setting.
The brave USCG aircrew from Air Station Astoria spearheaded the medical evacuation with the help of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, navigating the ocean winds and the considerable distance from land to respond to the call.
If you thought helicopters landing on cruise ships was the stuff of action movies, well, reality might surprise you. The Jayhawk couldn’t land on the ship because it was too big and too heavy for its structure to support.
Despite this challenge, the evacuation was carried out seamlessly. As the dramatic pictures clearly show, the helicopter hovered over the bow of the moving ship, lowering a gurney, and then hoisting up the patient for evacuation.
Saviour of the skies
The MH-60 Jayhawk is designed for all-weather, medium-range missions. Its impressive range is approximately 700 nautical miles (or 805 miles).
Once evacuated, the passenger was transported to the OHSU Hospital in Portland, renowned for its superior stroke treatment services, ensuring the patient received the best care possible.
All at sea
This rescue was just one of several recent incidents. Only a few weeks earlier, there were a number of other evacuations, including one from the Carnival Dream.
The USCG’s Jayhawk also attended this emergency but had to abort the operation after a sudden burst of bad weather. Another crew successfully completed the evacuation later when the conditions improved.
On another occasion, the Coast Guard made three separate evacuations from three different cruise ships in a 24-hour period.
Cruise ship medical evacuations vary, with reasons ranging from life-threatening heart attacks to strokes and onboard injuries. The common thread? The dedication and expertise of emergency personnel, on land and sea, to ensure everyone’s safety.
It’s a reminder of the extraordinary acts of bravery and skill that occur when a holiday takes an unexpected turn, and a testament to those who dedicate their lives to helping others in need, no matter where they are.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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