U.S. Coast Guard Medevacs 71-Year-Old Passenger on AIDAdiva Off Coast of Charleston

The U.S. Coast Guard medically evacuated a 71-year-old passenger suffering from a head injury approximately 76 miles offshore of Charleston, South Carolina, on November 4, according to video released by the Coast Guard. Although the Coast Guard did not identify the cruise ship involved, the passenger was aboard AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva.

Ship tracking data shows the AIDAdiva changing course towards Charleston at around 10:45 a.m. on November 4. During medical evacuations, cruise ships will typically sail towards the rescue team to expedite the process.

The pool deck visible in the Coast Guard footage also matches the distinctive deck layout and design of AIDAdiva.

The AIDAdiva requested assistance after the passenger suffered a head injury. A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew responded to the ship and hoisted the passenger from the vessel. The Coast Guard did not provide a timeline of the incident but ship tracking data shows AIDAdiva returning on its scheduled voyage toward Port Canaveral at around 3:30 p.m.

The man was transported in stable condition to MUSC in Charleston, according to the Coast Guard.

“Our Coast Guard crews maintain readiness through training, qualifications and physical fitness ensuring they remain Semper Paratus, Always Ready, to respond throughout the Southeast’s 1.8 million square mile area of responsibility,” the Coast Guard’s Southeast District said in a statement obtained by local ABC News.

A video of the incident can be seen below.

We last reported about a Coast Guard medical evacuation in October, when an 81-year-old passenger was rescued from Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride. The Coast Guard was initially contacted about the medical emergency two days earlier while the ship was approximately 900 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico.

After monitoring the situation, the Coast Guard ultimately dispatched an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to the Star Pride while it was 150 miles north of Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard hoisted the passenger from the ship and he was later transported to Centro Médico in San Juan for additional medical treatment.

_{Image Credit: AIDAdiva deck (Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons)}