On the 7th of August, ~40 NM (~74 km) southwest of Cabo Carvoeiro (cape near Peniche, Portugal), the Portuguese Navy conducted a successful medevac of a 69-year-old passenger from the Celebrity Silhouette ship.
The urgency arose from the passenger's severe chest pain, necessitating immediate evacuation for medical treatment ashore. Rapid response was executed by the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa), showcasing their exceptional proficiency in managing such critical scenarios.
At the time of the incident, the Celebrity Silhouette was en route from Southampton, England, to Malaga, Spain, forming a part of its 13-day round-trip Spain Mediterranean cruise.
To facilitate the medevac, the Portuguese Air Force dispatched their EH-101 aircraft to the cruise ship. The aircraft conducted the medical evacuation of the unwell passenger, transporting them to the Figo Maduro military airport. From there, the passenger was ambulanced to a hospital in Lisbon for requisite medical attention.
This operation underscores the pivotal role of maritime search and rescue coordination and underscores the Portuguese Navy's unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of lives at sea.
At the time of the accident, Celebrity Silhouette was on a 13-day Spain and Mediterranean voyage (roundtrip from Southampton) that started on August 5th, and ends on August 18th.
For more Celebrity Silhouette incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.