Media reports say a Princess Cruises passenger traveling on the Island Princess was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard and taken away for advanced medical care.
A 61-year-old female passenger was traveling on the Island Princess as the ship was close to Bligh Island on the eastern side of Prince William Sound, Alaska on Tuesday, June 11. She was suffering from cardiac distress when the Coast Guard was called.
“A 45-foot response boat took the patient from Island Princess to Valdez, where she was delivered in order to receive a higher level of medical care,” reported CruiseMapper.com.
The U.S. Coast Guard website, Coast Guard News, also reports:
“A Coast Guard Station Valdez 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew medically evacuated a 61-year-old female suffering with cardiac problems from the cruise ship Island Princess in vicinity of Bligh Island, near Prince William Sound, Alaska, Tuesday.
The woman was transported to emergency medical services personnel at a Valdez pier for further transport to higher medical care. The woman was reported to have been in stable condition upon transport.
District 17 command center watchstanders received notification from the Island Princess at approximately 1:49 p.m. about the woman’s distress. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center watchstanders and a Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended the woman be transported to a higher level of care within four hours of notification. Sector Anchorage watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Valdez boat crew to respond.”
Medical emergencies often require additional support by the Coast Guard. For questions related to medical care provided by a cruise lines, please contact the attorneys at Waks and Barnett, P.A. in Miami. Call 1-800-905-2891.