Man Experienced Multiple Strokes

The U.S. Coast Guard airlifted a man experiencing multiple stroke episodes from a cruise ship 300 miles offshore of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on February 27, 2025.

Watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received notification at 2:48 pm on February 27 from crew members onboard the Konigsdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship reporting that a 72-year-old man experienced multiple strokes. The watchstanders consulted the flight surgeon on duty who recommended a medevac within 20 hours.

At 9 am the next morning, crews from an HC-130 Hercules airplane and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point were dispatched to the scene. The aircraft rendezvoused with the Konigsdam about 57 miles south of Honolulu.

The helicopter crew conducted a hoist operation to lift the man from the cruise ship and transported him to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. He was later reported to be in stable condition.

Lt. Cmdr. John Stockton, HC-130 Hercules aircraft commander, Air Station Barbers Point said, "By combining the skills of our crews and the specialized capabilities of our aircraft, we are able to respond to emergencies across the vast Pacific region. Teamwork is critically important for medevacs, which are among the most time-sensitive and high-stakes missions we take on."

Video of the rescue shows the helicopter lowering a rescue swimmer to the cruise ship, then lowered a basket for the patient. The patient was hoisted into the helicopter before being transported to the medical center.

FMI:  www.news.uscg.mil/