An ailing cruise passenger on a visiting Norwegian Cruise Line's ship sparked a thrilling rescue in turbulent seas off Auckland coast Thursday night, January 18.
According to Northern Coastguard spokesman, the Australia-bound cruiser Norwegian Jewel was at Leigh Harbour close to Kawau Island at 8:15 p.m. when it reported a cruise passenger needed to be taken to hospital urgently.
The captain headed back to Auckland where Norwegian Jewel was met by rescue craft of the Coastguard with a paramedic onboard.
In deepening darkness, 2m swells and gale force winds (described as "turbulent" conditions), a paramedic climbed aboard the 93,000 GT vessel via a portal just 2 metres above the waterline.
The sick traveler was stabilised prior to being lowered in a lifeboat down ship's side into the rescue catamaran.
The rescue craft then raced to Marine Rescue Centre where it was met by an ambulance and the patient was taken to Auckland Hospital.
Norwegian Jewel resumed its delayed cruise north after the medical emergency.
For other Norwegian Jewel accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.