SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The crew of a MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter medically evacuated a cruise ship Disney Fantasy crewmember Monday, approximately 90 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The 38-year-old woman is a Jamaican citizen, who was suffering from external bleeding requiring immediate medical attention ashore.
Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan coordinated with the cruise ship’s crew and launched a rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, to conduct the medical evacuation.
“It was a job well done by all from fuel planning, to asking the right questions during the conference calls with Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders and the duty Flight Surgeon, said Lt. Kenny Ingram, Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircraft commander. “The crew successfully hoisted a ship’s nurse, the patient on a liter and recovered the rescue swimmer in under thirty minutes to then transport the patient to the Centro Medico Hospital.”
The patient was transferred to awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel at the Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan to receive further medical care.
