A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew conducted the medical evacuation of a passenger from the cruise ship Carnival Luminosa ~45 miles offshore of Humboldt Bay, California, on July 16th, after the woman developed symptoms consistent with a stroke.
Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders received a request for medical assistance at ~5:10 p.m. after a crew member aboard the Bahamian-flagged vessel reported that a 51-year-old female passenger required urgent evacuation. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay was dispatched to the ship to carry out the operation.
Despite operating in challenging weather conditions, including winds of around 40 mph and seas of 8 to 10 feet, the aircrew successfully hoisted the passenger from the vessel and transported her to Mendocino Coast Hospital in Fort Bragg, California, for further medical treatment. Authorities later reported that the woman was in stable condition.
Following the medical evacuation, Carnival Luminosa resumed its scheduled itinerary.
For more Carnival Luminosa incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page