MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard medevacs Norwegian Escape cruise ship passenger just off San Juan, Puerto Rico

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News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office
Office: 787-729-2381
After Hours: 787-510-7923
7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands online newsroom

Coast Guard medevacs Norwegian Escape cruise ship passenger just off San Juan, Puerto Rico

Coast Guard medevacs Morwegian Escape cruise ship passenger just off San Juan, Puerto Rico

Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crewmembers from Air Station Borinquen transfer a patient to Emergency Medical Service personnel at the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico Dec. 12, 2018. The patient was Norwegian Escape cruise ship passenger who was experiencing chest pains and was medevaced from the cruise ship by the Coast Guard helicopter crew, approximately 60 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter medevaced a 70-year-old man from the Norwegian Escape cruise ship Wednesday night, approximately 60 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a call at 3:19 p.m. Wednesday from the Norwegian Escape, requesting a medevac for a U.S. citizen passenger who was experiencing chest pains and required medical attention ashore.

“This case would not have been possible without the exceptional coordination with Sector San Juan watchstanders and the officer’s and crew of the Norwegian Escape,” said Lt. Marco Tinari, Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot.  “We are glad we could assist this American Veteran.”

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan coordinated with the Norwegian Escape and dispatched a crew aboard a MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to conduct the medevac just off Puerto Rico. The rescue helicopter arrived on scene and the crew deployed their rescue swimmer to the Norwegian Escape to assess the patient’s condition. The man and a cruise ship nurse were hoisted aboard the aircraft via the helicopter’s rescue basket.

The patient and nurse were transported to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they were received by awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel and transported by ambulance to the “Centro Medico” Hospital in San Juan.

The cruise ship was transiting from New York to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, when the incident was reported to the Coast Guard.

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-USCG-