U.S. Coast Guard rescued a passenger in distress from a Princess Cruises ship 86 miles southwest of San Diego on Monday morning.
The 73-year-old woman had been experiencing persistent severe abdominal pain since Sunday at about 5:15 p.m.
A Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended she be medically evacuated from Star Princess en route to Ensenada, Mexico, so she could seek emergency medical care on land.
Since the ship was more than 400 miles off the coast of San Diego, a rendezvous point was determined and the MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew was read to launch at 6:00 a.m. this morning.
"While most people are enjoying a long President's Day weekend, we can't forget illness and injury don't take holidays," said Lt. Tim Nicolet, aircraft commander and pilot of the Jayhawk.
"Fortunately for this patient, neither do we."
The rescued woman was transported to the hospital in stable condition.