SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a Symphony of the Seas cruise ship passenger Thursday, in Caribbean Sea waters just southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
Medevaced is 57-year-old man, U.S. citizen, who experienced possible stroke symptoms and required a higher level of medical care ashore.
Coast Guard watch standers in Sector San Juan received a communication from the Symphony of the Seas Thursday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was transiting 116 nautical miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Watchstanders at Sector San Juan coordinated medevac arrangements and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to rendezvous with the cruise ship. Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared the patient for a litter hoist and ensured he was safely hoisted aboard the aircraft.
“It was a great team effort on all fronts,” Cmdr. Raymond Jamros, MH-60T Jayhawk aircraft commander for the case. “We appreciate the coordination between the air station, sector and Royal Caribbean. The effective coordination and communication allowed us to get on scene in a timely matter and transport the patient to higher medical care.”
The Coast Guard aircrew transported the patient to the La Mercedita Airport in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where awaiting local Emergency Medical Service personnel received and transported the patient to a local hospital.
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