Coast Guard medevacs woman from cruise ship Insignia 150 miles south of Norfolk, VA

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced an 89-year-old from a cruise ship 80 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, last night.

Watchstanders in the 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth were notified by the captain of the cruise ship Insignia at approximately 4:20 p.m. that a Canadian woman was experiencing symptoms characteristic of a heart-attack.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, launched and arrived on scene at approximately 6:15 p.m..

The helicopter crew hoisted the woman from the cruise ship and transported her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, arriving at approximately 8 p.m. The cruise ship’s nurse was also hoisted aboard the helicopter to accompany the patient to the hospital.

“The cooperation between the crew of the Insignia and our watchstanders ensured that the Coast Guard was informed of a life-threatening situation aboard,” said Lt. j.g. Dan Dunn, watchstander at the 5th District Command Center. “The crew helped the aircrew transport this woman to the appropriate medical facility in a timely manner.”