On April 15, a pregnant passenger aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship was airlifted to safety after experiencing severe health complications. The ship was navigating 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean when the medical situation escalated, necessitating immediate medical attention beyond what could be provided on board.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a press release on April 16 detailing the operation. According to their statement, the Coast Guard was alerted to the emergency early in the morning when the Disney Fantasy was approximately 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The ship’s medical team determined that the passenger required a higher level of care, prompting them to request an emergency medical evacuation (medevac). A dramatic video captured the tense moments of the rescue. The footage shows an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from the Coast Guard performing the medevac.
In the video, a rescue swimmer is lowered onto the deck of the cruise ship by rope, where he joins the efforts to stabilize and prepare the pregnant woman for airlift. At least seven crew members are visible in the clip, carefully transferring the woman onto a stretcher and into a rescue basket. The Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer and the ship’s doctor were both hoisted aboard the helicopter with the patient in a meticulously coordinated operation, reported Daily Mail.
Upon reaching land, the patient was quickly transferred to local emergency medical responders waiting at Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was then taken to Centro Medico Hospital for further treatment, ensuring she received the necessary medical care.
The rescue operation highlighted the critical importance of swift and skilled response in maritime emergencies. Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens of the U.S. Coast Guard lauded the efficiency and safety of the execution, emphasizing that the success of the mission was a testament to excellent crew resource management and the advanced capabilities of their Jayhawk helicopter.
Ensign Michael Riccio, operations unit leader for Coast Guard Sector San Juan, also praised the professionalism and competence displayed by both the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel involved, which he noted was pivotal in the successful outcome of this high-stakes emergency. This incident not only underscores the challenges of medical emergencies at sea but also demonstrates the vital role of coordinated rescue efforts between ship crews and the Coast Guard in safeguarding lives in critical situations.