Pregnant Disney Cruise Passenger Airlifted Off Ship by U.S. Coast Guard: See Video

The 'Disney Fantasy' was 180 miles out at sea when Coast Guard members responded to a medical emergency involving the 35-year-old patient

  • A video shared by the U.S. Coast Guard on April 16 shows a passenger aboard the Disney Fantasy being airlifted into a helicopter 
  • In the clip, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully performs a medevac for the pregnant patient
  • The Disney Cruise Line ship was located 180 miles from land when the Coast Guard responded to the call

A pregnant passenger aboard the Disney Fantasy was airlifted from the ship after experiencing health complications on April 15. 

The Disney Cruise Line vessel was 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean when the passenger “required a higher level of medical care ashore,” according to an April 16 press release from the U.S. Coast Guard. 

A video of the incident shows the Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew executing a medevac in order to transport the patient safely to land by helicopter. 

In the harrowing clip, an aircrew member gets lowered by rope onto the ship and at least seven crew members are seen carrying the woman on a stretcher. Per the release, the aircrew’s rescue swimmer then “prepared a rescue basket and litter to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship doctor aboard the aircraft.”

Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico
Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

United States Coast Guard

The patient was met by local emergency medical responders at the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was then transported to the local Centro Medico Hospital.

Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico
Coast Guard members carry the patient on a stretcher.

United States Coast Guard

According to the release, Coast Guard members first got the call that there was a medical emergency aboard the ship on the morning of Monday, April 15. 

Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico

United States Coast Guard

“Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a communication from the Disney Fantasy Monday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was transiting 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico,” according to the release. 

Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico
The helicopter hovers over the Disney Fantasy.

United States Coast Guard

Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens stated in the release: “Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required. This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”

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Coast Guard medevacs U.S. passenger from Disney cruise ship 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico
The patient is carried safely inside the helicopter.

United States Coast Guard

Echoing a similar sentiment, Ensign Michael Riccio, Coast Guard Sector San Juan operations unit leader for the case, said, “The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference.”

Disney Cruise Line did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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