The Coast Guard conducted two consecutive medical evacuations on Saturday, October 5th, from a cruise ship located ~50 miles (80 km) off Cape Kumukahi, the easternmost point of Hawai‘i Island.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a call at 6:00 p.m. on Friday from personnel aboard the Crown Princess, a Princess Cruises vessel, requesting medical evacuations for 2 male passengers. A 70-year-old man was experiencing symptoms consistent with a heart attack, while an 86-year-old man was suffering from internal bleeding.
Following consultation with the duty flight surgeon, it was determined that both individuals required immediate evacuation.
On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point arrived at the Crown Princess to begin the operation. The aircrew hoisted the 70-year-old man and transported him to Hilo Medical Center, where he arrived in stable condition.
A second Coast Guard aircrew then evacuated the 86-year-old man, who was also taken to Hilo Medical Center in stable condition.
Crown Princess' current cruise is 24-day, one-way from San Francisco CA to Auckland NZ. The itinerary started on September 24th, 2024 and ends on October 18th, 2024.
For more Crown Princess incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.