Two passengers were medically evacuated from a Princess cruise ship on Sunday, August 24.
The Coast Guard’s Northwest District watchstanders received word from the Ruby Princess that the ship had two patients in need of immediate medical evacuations, according to a press release.
The eldest was a 99-year-old man who was suffering from complete esophageal obstruction, a serious blockage of the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
The other was a 52-year-old female who was on life support after suffering from a sudden heart attack.
According to the release, both missions were successfully completed. The operation involved simultaneous rescue efforts coordinated between Canadian and U.S. authorities.
Canada sent a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from RCAF 19 Wing Comox. Meanwhile, the U.S. deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Port Angeles, Washington.
The female was resecured by the CH-149 Cormorant and was transported to the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC, while the 99-year-old passenger was medically evacuated via the MH-65 helicopter.
"This case demonstrates how our specialized expertise and dedicated training allows us to rapidly respond to these types of time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea," said Cmdr. Kelly Higgins, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles.
"The expert coordination between the Canadian Coast Guard, the Life Flight Network, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured this patient received the care they needed," she added.
At the time of the incident, Ruby Princess was sailing off 145 nautical miles off the coast of Washington on an 11-night Alaska cruise that departed from San Francisco, California, on Aug. 22.
The ship is expected to return to San Francisco on Sept. 2. Ports of call on the itinerary include Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, and Sitka, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
No ports were disrupted because of the medical emergencies.
The video shared by the U.S. Coast Guard shows one of the dramatic hoists being carried out
(Credit: U.S. Coast Guard)
In the 42-second clip, a rescue team member is seen being lowered onto the Ruby Princess as the helicopter hovers overhead.
Then, the 99-year-old passenger is placed into a metal basket to be airlifted off the ship and onto the helicopter.
The video even shows the MH-65 helicopter's tracking data, which reveals the final turn the helicopter made as it inched closer to the Ruby Princess at sea.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
