A Coast Guard rescue swimmer is hoisted down to the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship from an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, approximately 90 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Rico, to assess the condition of a 13-year-old boy requiring medical attention ashore Feb. 16, 2015. The boy, his mother and cruise ship doctor were hoisted aboard the aircraft via rescue basket and transported to the Isla Grande Airport, where the patient was received by Emergency Medical Services personnel and transported to the "Centro Medico" Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter medevac'd a 13-year-old boy from the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship Monday afternoon, approximately 90 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard Watchstanders received notification Monday morning from crew aboard the cruise ship reporting the boy, a U.S. citizen from New York, required medical attention ashore.
The cruise ship was transiting from Miami to the island of St. Marteen, when the incident was reported to the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in San Juan coordinated with the Norwegian Getaway and dispatched a crew aboard a MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to conduct the medevac. The helicopter arrived on scene and the crew deployed their rescue swimmer to the Norwegian Getaway to assess the patient’s condition. The boy, his mother and a cruise ship doctor were hoisted aboard the aircraft via the helicopter’s rescue basket.
“The seamless coordination between the crew of the Norwegian Getaway and Coast Guard resulted in a efficient and safe hoisting evolution,” said Lt. Matthew Udkow, Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopterpilot. “We were glad we could provide rapid comfort and relief for the patient and his mother.”
The patient, his family members and the cruise ship doctor, were received by awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel and transported by ambulance to the “Centro Medico" Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico.