66-year-old airlifted to safety after stroke-like symptoms onboard the Koningsdam.
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully evacuated a 66-year-old woman from a Holland America Line cruise ship early Friday morning after she exhibited stroke-like symptoms while sailing in the Pacific Ocean. The dramatic rescue unfolded approximately 280 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico maritime boundary.
The Coast Guard’s command center received the distress call from the crew of the Koningsdam at 7:12 a.m., alerting them to the woman’s urgent need for medical attention. In response, an MH-60 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Diego was dispatched, accompanied by a C-27 Spartan aircraft from Air Station Sacramento to provide support.
The Sacramento-based crew facilitated communication during the operation, while the helicopter team executed the patient hoist. Despite the logistical challenges of a mid-ocean rescue, the teams worked in seamless coordination to ensure the evacuation was completed swiftly and safely.
“Rescues like this are exactly what our crews train for,” said Lt. Brady Stepan, a pilot at Air Station San Diego. “Through coordination from the command center and outstanding support from our C-27 cover aircraft crew, we were able to get the patient to higher-level care.”
The woman was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in San Diego, where medical staff confirmed her condition as stable.
