It was a heart-stopping moment, captured in stunning drone footage – a pregnant woman being airlifted from a Disney cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard were called to assist the woman, who was in need of urgent medical attention that the ship’s doctors were not equipped to provide.
The dramatic rescue, which took place on Monday, showcases the incredible skill and courage of the Coast Guard team as they descended from an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to retrieve the woman from the Disney Fantasy.
The 35-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was strapped to a gurney and reeled into the helicopter in a daring mission that took place northwest of Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard said that the woman required a higher level of medical care than what was available on board the vessel.
This meant that a swift and efficient rescue was needed to get her to a hospital onshore in Puerto Rico. Thankfully, the Coast Guard were able to act quickly and effectively, deploying an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft as well as the MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter.
The Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received the call for help from the Disney Fantasy on Monday morning, when the cruise ship was 260 nautical miles from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The helicopter rescue team prepared a rescue basket and litter to ensure the safe transportation of the woman and the cruise ship doctor back to shore. This was no small feat, but the Coast Guard team were well-trained and prepared for this kind of emergency.
Despite the danger and high stakes involved, the Coast Guard team were able to successfully complete the rescue without incident. The woman was airlifted to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was then taken to Centro Medico Hospital for further treatment. This incredible rescue mission highlights the value of effective teamwork and the impressive capabilities of the Coast Guard.
The dedicated team, led by Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens and Ensign Michael Riccio, worked tirelessly to ensure the successful outcome of the mission.
Their competency and efficiency were praised by the Coast Guard, who stated that “good crew resource management” played a crucial role in the success of the rescue. This is just one example of the brave work that the Coast Guard carries out every day to keep citizens safe.
NEW: Pregnant woman airlifted by the US Coast Guard from a Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean.
The woman was rescued by crew on a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter.
A rescuer rappelled down from the helicopter and strapped the woman… pic.twitter.com/Qj1qAQyEcy
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 17, 2024
The Disney Fantasy cruise, which had set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida just two days earlier, was on a 7-night itinerary in the Eastern Caribbean. The ship was scheduled to visit Tortola and St. Thomas before heading to Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. The cruise line has not yet commented on the incident, but it is clear that the ship’s crew and the Coast Guard team worked together seamlessly to ensure the safety and well-being of the pregnant woman.
