TAMPA, Fla. – A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater rescue crew medically evacuated an 18-year-old male from a cruise ship 250-miles southwest of Clearwater Beach, Fla., at about 1 p.m. today.
Tyler King, residence unknown, fell 20 feet from the cruise ship’s mast to the deck. King landed on his head causing head trauma, a hematoma behind the eye and a broken bone in his face.
The Coast Guard received a call at 10:52 a.m. today from a doctor on board the 739-foot Carnival cruise ship Fantasy, home ported in Miami, Fla., reporting the male’s condition and requesting Coast Guard assistance.
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater immediately launched an HH-60 rescue helicopter and a C-130 search plane to assist in the medevac of King. The rescue crews arrived on scene at 12:46 p.m. and safely hoisted King into the rescue helicopter.
King was transferred to Tampa General Hospital. His condition is stable.
Source: USCG D7 Public Affairs
