Royal Canadian Air Force rescues sick passenger from cruise ship

The Royal Canadian Air Force conducted a high-seas search and rescue mission on Saturday morning to evacuate an ill passenger from a cruise ship off the coast of British Columbia.

Responding to a call received by the 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, a CC-295 Kingfisher airplane and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter were deployed to a location approximately 200 km northwest of Port Hardy. The Kingfisher arrived first to coordinate the medical evacuation with the ship’s captain and provide over-watch for the helicopter.

To facilitate a safe approach, the ship’s captain steered the vessel into the wind, deactivated the radar, and cleared an area on the bow. Two search and rescue technicians were lowered onto the ship to manage the patient. The patient, a travel companion, and a member of the ship’s medical staff were subsequently hoisted into the helicopter and flown to Comox, where they were transferred to emergency health services.