Cruise passenger airlifted from ship off British Columbia
Canadian military crews evacuated a passenger in medical distress about 200 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy on Saturday.
The Royal Canadian Air Force said the 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, based at 19 Wing Comox, was called to assist a passenger aboard a cruise ship approximately 200 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy, British Columbia.
Under the direction of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria, a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft were dispatched during the early morning. After reaching the ship, two search and rescue technicians were lowered to its deck to care for the passenger and prepare them for evacuation.
The patient, a travelling companion and accompanying medical personnel were hoisted into the helicopter with the two search and rescue technicians. The Cormorant then transported the group to Comox, where the patient was placed in the care of BC Emergency Health Services.
The Department of National Defence did not release the nature of the medical emergency or provide an update on the passenger’s condition following the rescue.