Passenger medically evacuated from Ovation of the Seas near Tofino
Canadian search and rescue crews transferred an ill cruise passenger by helicopter to a hospital in Victoria on Aug. 9.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria responded on Aug. 9 after receiving a request to medically evacuate an ill passenger from Ovation of the Seas. At the time, the Royal Caribbean International-operated cruise ship was about 52 nautical miles northwest of Tofino.
A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft were assigned to the operation from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron. After the helicopter reached the vessel, search and rescue technicians were lowered onto the ship’s deck.
The technicians assumed care of the patient and prepared the passenger for transfer. The patient and the search and rescue personnel were then hoisted from the ship into the hovering Cormorant helicopter.
The helicopter subsequently transported the passenger to a hospital in Victoria for additional medical care. No further details about the passenger’s condition were provided in the supplied information.