A passenger experiencing a medical emergency aboard the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship ~200 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy, British Columbia, was evacuated by air early Saturday morning, September 12th.
The operation was conducted by the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, based at 19 Wing Comox, under the direction of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria.
RCAF crews responded before dawn using a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft. The Cormorant reached the cruise ship first, allowing the rescue team to coordinate the evacuation with the vessel’s captain.
Two search and rescue technicians were lowered onto the ship’s deck and prepared the passenger for extraction. The patient was then hoisted into the hovering helicopter together with a companion and medical personnel.
The helicopter transported the group to Comox, where the patient was transferred to BC Emergency Health Services and subsequently taken to hospital for further treatment.
Authorities have not released details concerning the passenger’s medical condition.
For more Celebrity Solstice incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page