Man Medevaced From Cruise Ship off Maui

A 72-year-old man arrived safely to Maui Wednesday, after being medevaced 170 miles from a cruise ship offshore.

Maui medevac.

A Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter aircrew from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 at Kaneʻohe Bay, Hawaiʻi, arrived on scene at 3:55 a.m., safely hoisted the man aboard and delivered him to awaiting emergency medical services at the Maui Memorial Medical Center in Kahului.

“This case illustrates the importance of our partnership with the Navy”, said Lt. Duane Zitta, command duty officer, Coast Guard Joint Response Coordination Center Honolulu. “In the remote Pacific, long-range capable search and rescue assets are vital to getting people to a higher level of medical care as quickly and safely as possible.”

JRCC personnel in Honolulu received notification at 5:18 p.m. Tuesday from the master of the cruise ship Radiance of the Seas, of a passenger aboard suffering from symptoms of abdominal distress.

Watchstanders at JRCC contacted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the man be seen by a general surgeon within 24 hours. Watchstanders at JRCC then coordinated with HSM-37 to conduct the rescue.