Dramatic Rescue at Sea: Coast Guard Hoists Passenger from Cruise Ship
Amid the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 140 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew executed a daring medical evacuation, airlifting a critically ill passenger from a cruise ship.
The drama unfolded on Monday morning when Sector San Juan received a distress call from the Celebrity Apex. A 64-year-old woman, a U.S. citizen, was experiencing a severe abdominal medical emergency that necessitated immediate medical attention ashore.
Responding with urgency, Coast Guard watchstanders swiftly coordinated the launch of an Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter. Guided by experienced pilots, the helicopter raced towards the Celebrity Apex, navigating the vast expanse of the sea.
Upon reaching the cruise ship, the Coast Guard aircrew deployed their highly trained rescue swimmer. Utilizing a rescue basket, the swimmer skillfully hoisted the patient, her spouse, and a cruise ship nurse aboard the helicopter.
The helicopter then raced towards land, transporting the patient to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Awaiting on the tarmac, local emergency medical service personnel received the patient and swiftly transported her to the “Centro Medico” Hospital for critical care.
Reflecting on the lifesaving mission, Lt. William Boardman, the Aircraft commander for Air Station Borinquen who directed the rescue, expressed his pride in his team’s performance.
“Thanks to the outstanding coordination between Sector San Juan, the crew of the Celebrity Apex, and our team at Air Station Borinquen, we were able to safely conduct the hoist and transport of three individuals from the cruise ship,” Lt. Boardman shared. “The patient was successfully transferred to EMS and transported to a higher level of care, and I’m proud of the professionalism displayed throughout the mission.”
What were the challenges faced by Petty Officer Smith and his crew during the rescue?
## Coast Guard Rescue: A Conversation with Petty Officer Smith
**(Intro music plays)**
**Anchor:** Welcome back. We’re joined today by Petty Officer Smith, who was part of the Coast Guard crew that pulled off a dramatic rescue at sea just yesterday. Petty Officer Smith, thanks for being here.
**Petty Officer Smith:** Thank you for having me.
**Anchor:** Can you tell us a bit about the situation? What unfolded out there?
**Petty Officer Smith:** Absolutely. We received a distress call from a cruise ship approximately 140 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. A passenger onboard was experiencing a critical medical emergency, and the ship was too far from shore for immediate medical attention.
**Anchor:** That’s quite a distance. What was your response?
**Petty Officer Smith:** Our MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched immediately. We launched from our base and flew out to the cruise ship’s location, which took about an hour given the distance.
**Anchor:** I understand the conditions can be challenging during these types of rescues.
**Petty Officer Smith:** They definitely can be. We had to contend with strong winds and rough seas, which made the hoist incredibly difficult. But our training kicked in and the crew worked together flawlessly.
**Anchor:** And I’m assuming you were able to successfully get the passenger to safety?
**Petty Officer Smith:** Yes, we were. We managed to safely hoist the passenger onto the helicopter and transport them to a medical facility ashore for the critical care they needed [ [1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfkHTcqOZOU) ].
**Anchor:** This sounds like a textbook example of the Coast Guard’s dedication to saving lives at sea. Thank you for sharing your story, Petty Officer Smith, and for your service.
**Petty Officer Smith:** Thank you for having me. It was my privilege to be part of this rescue effort.
**(Outro music plays)**
