Dramatic video captures the moment a pregnant woman with complications is airlifted from a Disney cruise ship.
Video posted by the U.S. Coast Guard shows rescue workers being lowered onto the Disney Fantasy in the Atlantic Ocean about 290 miles northwest of Puerto Rico on Monday.
The 35-year-old woman, whose identity has not been released, was later seen being picked up by a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and taken to a hospital.
“Coast Guard observers in the San Juan area received a communication Monday morning from Disney Fantasy Inc. requesting emergency assistance as the cruise ship was sailing 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico,” the agency said.
The Coast Guard also dispatched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Miami Air Base to rendezvous with the cruise ship.
“Upon arrival on scene, Coast Guard Jayhawk crews dispatched rescue swimmers to the cruise ship and prepared rescue baskets and stretchers to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship physician onto the aircraft.” the guard said.
Officials said the woman was taken to Fernando Luis Rivas Dominici Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was treated at Centro Medico Hospital.
“Our crews were able to quickly, safely and efficiently perform long-distance MEDEVAC to ensure patients received the higher level of care they needed,” said Lt. Col. Todd Stevens said in a statement. “This case demonstrates the value of superior crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopters.”
Lt. Michael Riccio, Coast Guard San Juan Sector Operations Unit Leader, said the crew was “glad everything came together to help this passenger.”
“The competency demonstrated by the Disney Fantasy crew and Coast Guard personnel and units made a huge difference,” he said.
The newspaper has contacted Disney Cruise Line for comment.
