A dramatic video captured the U.S. Coast Guard medivac a pregnant 35-year-old woman from a Disney cruise in the Atlantic Ocean.
A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew flew her from the Disney Fantasy cruise ship on Monday. The woman had health complications and required a higher level of medical care ashore.
The ship was 180 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard station in San Juan received a communication from the Disney Fantasy Monday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was moving 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla.
The Coast Guard crew lowered their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket to safely hoist the woman and the cruise ship doctor aboard the helicopter.
The Coast Guard aircrew transported the woman to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where local Emergency Medical Service personnel took her to Centro Medico Hospital.
"Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required," said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens.
"We are glad everything came together to help this passenger," said Coast Guard Ensign Michael Riccio. "The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference."
No update on the woman's condition was released.
