On Tuesday, August 23, the Cagliari ((Sardinia Italy) Coast Guard carried out a rescue and medical evacuation operation in favour of a crew member caught ill onboard an MSC Cruises ship sailing west of the Sardinian coast, arranging the use of a SAR aircraft (search and rescue helicopter) of Decimomannu Air Base (4th CG Helicopter Section).
The operation started at ~1 pm, when the Cagliari Coast Guard received a report that the MSC ship, en route from Palermo (Sicily Italy) to Ibiza Town (Balearic Spain) and navigating ~55 km off Capo Teulada required immediate medical assistance for an Indian male crew with a high fever.
The CG's Operations Room established radio contact with the liner and with CIRM (International Medical Radio Center), and also alerted Sardinia's 118 Service for the subsequent hospitalization.
CIRM ordered the medevac of the seafarer via a rescue helicopter and subsequent ambulance to the hospital. For the medevac was dispatched an aircraft specialized in sea research activities, equipped with sophisticated equipment that allows hoisting/vertical airlifting from marine vessels.
In the meantime, MSC Seaside was brought closer to the coast to reduce intervention time.
Following research activities, the CG helicopter intercepted the passenger liner and proceeded to the recovery and medical evacuation of the crew, heading afterward to the BROTZU hospital.
The rescue operation ended with the landing of the Coast Guard helicopter at the Decimomannu base.
The identity of the crew has not been disclosed.
For more MSC Seaside incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.