On Monday, April 15, the Coast Guard performed a medevac rescue, evacuating a 35-year-old pregnant woman from aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship due to health complications that were more serious than the onboard medical personnel were equipped to handle.
The Disney Fantasy cruise is based out of Port Canaveral, Florida, and was traveling 180 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, when the emergency took place. A pregnant U.S. citizen needed a high level of care, so the crew had no choice but to call the Coast Guard out of San Juan for help. Watchstanders — those on duty night and day to take emergency calls — coordinated the medevac operation.
An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft were deployed from the Coast Guard Air Station Miami to the cruise ship. A rescue swimmer prepared a basket and litter. Disney Cruise Line crew members carried the patient on a stretcher to the top deck where she and the cruise ship’s doctor were safely hoisted into the aircraft.
The aircrew transported the unidentified woman to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Local emergency medical services were awaiting her arrival and quickly took her to the Centro Medico Hospital for emergency medical treatment. The conditions of the woman and her baby have not been released.
“Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required,” Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens said in a press release. “This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”
Ensign Michael Riccio, the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Operations unit leader for this case, said, “We are glad everything came together to help this passenger. The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference.”
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