NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard medevaced a 68-year-old female passenger aboard the cruise ship Crown Princess approximately 140 miles south of Southwest Pass in the Gulf of Mexico, Friday.
Watchstanders at the 8th Coast Guard District command center received a report at approximately 2 a.m., that the Crown Princess required a medevac for a woman experiencing internal bleeding. She reportedly received blood transfusions and remained stable until approximately 2:20 a.m. Friday, at which time further transfusions were administered.
The Crown Princess was approximately 200 miles offshore New Orleans at the time of the initial call. En route to Galveston, Texas with an estimated time of arrival on the morning of Dec. 22, the Crown Princess altered its course to the north and headed to Southwest Pass at the the direction of the Coast Guard flight surgeon.
The cruise ship reportedly solicited donations from crewmembers beginning Wednesday evening, who donated more than six pints of blood to the patient.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to the ship at approximately 10 a.m. The crew successfully hoisted the woman from the ship and transfered her to Air Station New Orleans in Belle Chasse, where awaiting emergency medical servces took her to West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero.
“We were fortunate enough to give this patient a ride back to shore, but the perfect strangers who donated their own blood to help her really saved her life,” said Lt. Scott Austin, Air Station New Orleans pilot. “This is just another example of tough situations bringing out the best in people.”
The patients condition is unknown.
Crewmembers of Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans and emergency medical technicians treat a 68-year-old female passenger from the cruise ship Crown Princess at Air Station New Orleans, Dec. 21, 2012. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
