A 99-year-old cruise passenger was rescued by helicopter while aboard the Princess Cruise Line ship ‘Ruby Princess’ in a daring and successful operation on Sunday, Aug. 24. The dramatic rescue, which took place off the coast of Washington state, involved not only the U.S. Coast Guard but also the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Coast Guard. The joint effort was prompted by the urgent medical needs of two passengers, including the elderly man and a 52-year-old woman.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/_Alaskan-Cruise-Ship-rescue-082625-2a1b73a1ffe940fbaddf6991297b9603.jpg)
The incident unfolded approximately 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery, Wash., as the Ruby Princess was en route to Alaska. The Coast Guard’s Northwest District received an emergency call for immediate medical evacuations on Sunday morning. The 99-year-old passenger was suffering from complete esophageal obstruction, while the 52-year-old woman was on life support following sudden cardiac arrest. The timely and coordinated response involved Canadian and U.S. aircraft, including a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and an MH-65 Dolphin from the U.S. Coast Guard.
In a captivating video released by authorities, a Coast Guard member can be seen hoisting the elderly man from the cruise ship to the helicopter. The rescue operation also included a wing-to-wing transfer with Life Flight Network, showcasing the seamless collaboration between multiple agencies. The Canadian helicopter successfully airlifted the 52-year-old woman to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, B.C. Cmdr. Kelly Higgins of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles commended the teamwork, highlighting the specialized expertise required for such time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea.
According to details from CruiseMapper, the Ruby Princess embarked on an 11-day journey from San Francisco on Aug. 22, with planned stops in the U.S. and Canada before returning to California. Princess Cruises, the operator of the ship, has not provided immediate comments on the incident. This isn’t the first time Princess Cruises has faced medical emergencies at sea, as last October, the Sun Princess had passengers evacuated during Hurricane Milton off the coast of Florida.
The 2024 incident saw the Coast Guard performing a high-level medical evacuation from the stricken ship, which was initially prevented from docking due to the impending storm. Passengers aboard the Sun Princess recorded a rescue operation involving a helicopter lowering a rescue basket to the ship, illustrating the challenges faced during such emergencies. The final details from Princess Cruises indicated that the ship was eventually able to dock after additional days at sea, overcoming the obstacles posed by Hurricane Milton.
These dramatic at-sea rescues highlight the crucial roles played by emergency response teams when medical emergencies occur onboard cruise ships. The swift and efficient actions of the U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with international partners, ensured that both the 99-year-old man and the 52-year-old woman received the necessary medical attention in a timely manner. As passengers continue to embark on cruise adventures, the readiness and expertise of these rescue teams are vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone onboard.