SEATTLE — The U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Coast Guard coordinated two separate medical evacuations from the cruise ship Ruby Princess about 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery.
Coast Guard Northwest District watchstanders received notification from the Ruby Princess on Sunday that two patients required immediate medical evacuations. One was a 52-year-old woman who had suffered sudden cardiac arrest and was on life support. The other was 99-year-old man suffering from complete esophageal obstruction.
The operation involved simultaneous rescue efforts coordinated between Canadian and U.S. assets, including a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from Royal Canadian Air Force 19 Wing Comox, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles.
The Kingfisher aircraft provided aerial oversight and coordination throughout the mission.
An MH-65 helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles was launched to medevac the 99-year-old. The crew successfully hoisted the man from the cruise ship and conducted a wing-to-wing transfer with Life Flight Network at Neah Bay.
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria launched a CH-149 Cormorant from 19 Wing Comox to conduct a medical evacuation of the 52-year-old woman. Royal Canadian Air Force 909 successfully hoisted the woman and transported her to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC.
“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,” said Cmdr. Kelly Higgins, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. “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.”
