The US Coast Guard has released dramatic footage of the moment a pregnant woman was airlifted from a Disney cruise ship after suffering “health complications”.
A MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter was filmed landing on the bow of the Disney Fantasy ship that was sailing 180 miles northwest of Aguadilla in Puerto Rico.
The coastguard said in a statement: “The medevac patient was a 35-year-old pregnant woman, US citizen, who experienced health complications and required a higher level of medical care ashore.”
In a video shared on social media, a member of the helicopter crew is seen attaching the stretcher to a rope which is then hoisted, lifting the passenger into the aircraft.
The helicopter landed on the bow of the Disney Fantasy ship. Pic: USCGSoutheast
The pregnant passenger was taken to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, where emergency service personnel were waiting, the US Coast Guard said.
She was later transported to the Centro Medico Hospital to receive treatment.
“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,” Lieutenant Commander Todd Stephens said.
Pic: USCGSoutheast
Pic: USCGSoutheast
“This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”
Ensign Michael Riccio, the coastguard’s leader for the case, added: “We are glad everything came together to help this passenger.”
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Pic: USCGSoutheast
He added: “The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the coastguard personnel and units involved made all the difference.”
The Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
It operates five ships that sail across the globe, stopping at destinations in Europe, Australia, Alaska and the Bahamas – including the company’s own private island Castaway Cay.