The US Coast Guard recently shared video from an April 15, 2024 medevac of a passenger from the Disney Fantasy while the ship was at sea sailing towards Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 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.

Watchstanders coordinated medevac arrangements and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft forward-deployed from Coast Guard Air Station Miami to rendezvous with the cruise ship.  Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket and litter to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship doctor aboard the aircraft.

US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew worked with the Disney Fantasy cruise ship crew during the medevac a pregnant woman passenger with health complications, April 15, 2024, approximately 180 miles northwest Puerto Rico.

“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,” said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens. “This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”

The medevac patient was a 35-year-old, U.S. citizen, who was transported to the ‘Centro Medico’ Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico to receive higher level of medical care.

“We are glad everything came together to help this passenger,” said Ensign Michael Riccio, Coast Guard Sector San Juan operations unit leader for the case. “The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference.”

The Disney Fantasy, sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departed Port Canaveral on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The ship arrived in Tortola earlier this morning as scheduled.