No cruise passenger desires their trip to be interrupted for medical issues, however when an emergency arises, each visitor is grateful there are these with the abilities, daring, and experience to hold out evacuations safely and effectively.
Simply such an event arose aboard Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess on Sunday, October 13, 2024, when a 63-year-old male passenger skilled extreme stomach ache that required larger medical care than could possibly be offered onboard the vessel.
The medevac request was acquired by watchstanders from the US Coast Guard (USCG) District Eleven Command Heart at roughly 1 a.m. on Saturday, October 12. At the moment, Grand Princess was at sea coming back from Hawaii, having departed for the roundtrip Hawaiian Island cruise on Sunday, September 29.
The ship was placed on a “communications schedule” to stay in contact with the Coast Guard for updates whereas the affected person’s situation was monitored onboard. This gave the ship time to maneuver nearer to the coast and in attain of help.
Luckily, by the following afternoon, the ship was inside vary of the newly established Coast Guard Air Station Ventura, which was capable of dispatch an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, together with Lieutenant Rob Turley, Lieutenant Miguel Cortez, Petty Officer 2nd Class Curren Hinote, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Sam Monahan.
At roughly 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the medical evacuation hoist was performed, with a C-27 Spartan aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento offering overflight help to make sure the protection of everybody concerned.
The cruise ship passenger, whose identify has not been revealed with a view to defend his privateness and that of his touring companion(s) and relations, was then transferred through ambulance to Torrance Memorial Medical Heart in Torrance, California. No additional particulars on his situation have been launched.
The rescue had no influence on the ship’s schedule, and no itinerary changes have been vital. The ship is due again in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 15.
First Rescue for New USCG Station
The USCG often performs at-sea rescues for emergency medical conditions that will develop on cruise ships. Some rescues are extra notable than others for excessive distance, younger visitor age, hazardous climate circumstances, or different mitigating components.
Even back-to-back rescues could be wanted, akin to what occurred on the sister ship Crown Princess 50 miles off Cape Kumukahi on Hawaii’s Large Island.
This rescue is particularly distinctive as the primary cruise ship evacuation carried out by the crew from Air Station Ventura, which started operation simply this summer time to offer search and rescue protection throughout the larger Los Angeles and Lengthy Seashore space.
This follows the closure of Naval Air Station Level Magu, beneath the jurisdiction of Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, which had serviced the area since 2016. The brand new station ensures extra environment friendly protection for emergency responses, together with for life-saving rescues at sea.
Grand Princess is at present homeported from Los Angeles, providing prolonged Hawaii and Baja Mexico itineraries and different distinctive voyages, together with a 33-day South Pacific and Hawaii cruise scheduled to depart on October 31.
Learn Additionally: Second Eclipse Voyage Added for Princess Cruises in 2026
The 107,517-gross-ton ship will reposition to Vancouver in Might 2025 for the Alaska crusing season, after which she is going to provide choose sailings from Los Angeles as soon as once more earlier than being redeployed to San Juan, Puerto Rico in October 2025.
Grand Princess can welcome 2,590 vacationers aboard at double occupancy or as much as 3,100 friends when totally booked with all berths crammed.
Each traveler can breathe simpler for his or her crusing figuring out that such devoted service personnel can be found at Air Station Ventura, able to spring into motion at any time when wanted to supply lifesaving help.
