Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship Aida Perla passenger just off Ponce, Puerto Rico
The USCG says that the crew of a Coast Guard helicopter medevaced a 74-year-old German citizen passenger from the cruise ship Aida Perla Wednesday, approximately 50 nautical miles south of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard watchstanders received medevac request from the Aida Perla for a man who was experiencing a possible heart attack and required immediate medical attention ashore.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan coordinated with the Aida Perla and dispatched a crew aboard a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to conduct the medevac. The rescue helicopter arrived on scene and the crew deployed their rescue swimmer to assess the patient’s condition. The man and a cruise ship doctor were hoisted aboard the aircraft and transported to the Mercedita Airport in Ponce, where they were received by awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel and transported by ambulance to the local Saint Lucas Hospital.
“This case highlighted the professionalism and swift action of the crew of the Aida Perla in ensuring the passenger was prepared for embarkation in the helicopter,” said Lt. Carlos González, MH65 Dolphin helicopter co-pilot for the medevac. “Our command center in San Juan did an amazing job liaising with local partners and EMS to ensure an expedited transfer of the survivor to a higher level of medical care.”
The cruise ship was transiting from Antigua Barbuda to La Romana, Dominican Republic when the incident was reported to the Coast Guard.
