A US Coast Guard rescue helicopter flew 200+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, December 22, to aid a cruise passenger suffering a possible stroke.
The USCG Base New Orleans (Port NOLA, Louisiana) received an emergency call from the Carnival Valor ship on Wednesday morning.
The liner was located south of the Southwest Pass, Louisiana, asking for a passenger to be airlifted because he was experiencing internal bleeding symptoms, similar to a stroke.
The rescue took place ~220 mi (350 km) of Louisiana's Southwest Pass (one of the channels at the Mississippi's mouth).
According to the report, USCG District Eight watchstanders had received a call at ~11:23 am stating a man was experiencing stroke-like symptoms onboard the CCL-Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Valor.
“Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew. The helicopter crew arrived at the scene, hoisted the passenger and a Carnival Valor nurse, and transferred them both to University Medical Center in New Orleans.”
The 53-year-old man was reportedly in stable condition.
For more Carnival Valor incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.