ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard carried out a long-range medical evacuation after receiving an emergency request from a cruise ship more than 320 kilometres north of Aruba.
The Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Center coordinated the rescue with support from its Aruba operations office after a 40-year-old female passenger developed severe abdominal pain believed to have been caused by a ruptured appendix requiring emergency surgery.
Once the cruise ship entered Aruba’s search and rescue area, a Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched despite rough sea conditions and fading daylight. The crew successfully hoisted the patient from the vessel before flying her back to Aruba.
Upon arrival, an ambulance and medical team were waiting at the airport to transfer the patient to Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital, where specialists were prepared to provide emergency treatment.
