Video shows 99-year-old man rescued by U.S. coast guard off B.C. coast

Two people were separately medically evacuated from a Princess Cruises ship off the coast of Washington and B.C. by the U.S. and Canadian coast guards on Sunday.

U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District watchstanders were notified Sunday morning that two patients on board the Ruby Princess cruise ship, approximately 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery, Wash., required immediate medical evacuations. A 52-year-old woman had experienced cardiac arrest and was on life support, while a 99-year-old man experienced a complete esophageal obstruction.

The Coast Guard coordinated with the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to carry out the rescues. A CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from RCAF 19 Wing Comox provided aerial oversight during the mission.

An MH-65 helicopter from USCG Air Station Port Angeles was launched to medevac the 99-year-old. He was hoisted to the helicopter, which conducted a wing-to-wing transfer with Life Flight Network at Neah Bay, Wash.

Canadian officials, meanwhile, launched a CH-149 Cormorant from 19 Wing Comox to evacuate the 52-year-old. She was successfully hoisted and transported to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, B.C., Canada.

“This case demonstrates how our specialized expertise and dedicated training allows us to rapidly respond to these types of time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea,“ said Cmdr. Kelly Higgins, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. “The expert coordination between the Canadian Coast Guard, the Life Flight Network, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured this patient received the care they needed.”

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