Ruby Princess In Pacific West of Cape Flattery, Washington

The U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Coast Guard successfully coordinated to conduct two separate medical evacuations from the cruise ship Ruby Princess, approximately 145 nm west of Cape Flattery, Washington, on Sunday August 24.

On the morning of August 24, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Northwest District received a notification from the Ruby Princess that two patients onboard required immediate medical evacuations.

One patient was a 52-year-old female passenger who suffered sudden cardiac arrest and was on life support. The other was a 99-year-old male passenger with complete esophageal obstruction.

The operation required simultaneous rescues coordinated between Canadian and U.S. assets that included a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from the RCAF 19 Wing Comox, and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from USCG Air Station Port Angeles. The Kingfisher provided aerial oversight and coordination throughout the mission.

The MH-65 helicopter was dispatched from USCG Air Station Port Angeles to medevac the 99-year-old. He was successfully hoisted aboard the helicopter from the cruise ship by the crew and flown to Neah Bay, Washington. There, a wing-to-wing transfer was performed with Life Flight Network and the man was transported to a hospital in Washington.

Joint Rescue Coordination Center Victoria launched the CH-149 Cormorant from 19 Wing Comox to medevac the 52-year-old woman, and RCAF 909 successfully hoisted the patient and transported her to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia.

Cmdr. Kelly Higgins, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles commented, “This case demonstrates how our specialized expertise and dedicated training allows us to rapidly respond to these types of time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea. The expert coordination between the Canadian Coast Guard, the Life Flight Network, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured this patient received the care they needed.”

FMI:  www.news.uscg.mil/