This is the tense moment a passenger was airlifted from a Carnival cruise ship in a life-saving rescue nearly 400 miles off the east coast of the United States.
Dramatic footage shows the US Air Fore rescue team lifting a passenger, who was in “critical” condition, from the deck of the 300-metre-high Carnival Venezia on May 4.
Two helicopters approached the ship to carry out the extraction before rescuers descended and immediately began preparing the cruise ship traveler.
The unnamed patient and his mother were then loaded onto the helicopter, where he received treatment while en route to a hospital in the United States. His current status remains unknown.
Carnival Venezia set sail from New York on April 26 on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean. The rescue team conducted three air-to-air refuelings by helicopter before reaching the ship’s remote location in the Atlantic Ocean.
Paratroopers from the U.S. Air Force’s 920th Rescue Wing airlifted a “critical” passenger and his mother from the 1,000-foot-high Carnival Venezia on May 4.
Two helicopters approached the ship to carry out the extraction before the rescuers descended and immediately began preparing the cruise passenger.
The unnamed patient and his mother were then loaded onto the helicopter, where he received treatment while en route to a hospital in the US.
The Carnival Venezia (pictured) set sail from New York on April 26 on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
In the operation, the 920th Rescue Wing sent a rescue force consisting of two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and two teams of combat rescue officers and pararescuemen to the cruiser.
“Everyone in the wing moved at exceptional speed,” Capt. Dylan Gann, a pilot with the 301st Rescue Squadron, recalled of the mission.
“By joining our efforts, we saved crucial time and provided life-saving assistance six hours before other response teams.”
When the mission commander arrived on scene, the two HC-130J search and rescue aircraft flew over the airspace to assess the situation and assumed command at the scene.
The two HH-60s approached the ship, lowered the rescuers and began preparing the passenger and his mother for rescue. Then they put them on the helicopter.
The paratroopers were lowered from the helicopter to help the critical cruise ship passenger.
Pictured are members of the 920th Rescue Wing who successfully conducted a civilian medical airlift operation of a critical patient aboard the Carnival Venezia cruise ship.
An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during a civilian medical airlift operation of a critical patient aboard a cruise ship more than 350 miles off the U.S. East Coast.
Paratroopers prepare to rescue a passenger from the Carnival Venezia who was in critical condition
Meanwhile, a team at the base station coordinated with flight doctors to find the right treatment center for the patient.
The information was passed on to rescue forces, who then ensured that the patient was “successfully transferred” to hospital.
“This is what it looks like to be ready now,” said Lt. Col. John Lowe, commander of the 920th Operations Group.
‘These real-world missions are what our countless hours of training have prepared us for. Rescue was able to plan and execute this mission without hesitation,
“This combined arms team is highly trained in their field while understanding the role they play in the big picture and led to the successful completion of the mission.”
Captain Gann added: “Our collective determination and efficiency ensured the successful rescue and transport of the person in need.”
An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during the rescue mission
Reaching the remote location of the Carnival Venezia cruise ship required three mid-air refuelings from helicopters. Footage shows an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receiving fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during the May 4 rescue.
Cruise passengers watched from the deck as the helicopter left the Carnival Venezia, with the patient and his mother on board, and headed to the hospital.
A US Air Force spokesperson said: “The patient was successfully transported to a hospital in the United States. After 8 hours and more than 1,200 miles flown, the mission was completed when all aircraft returned to Patrick SFB.
A Carnival Cruise spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the crew is working with the Coast Guard and Air Force to “adjust their course on Saturday so that a medical helicopter can rendezvous with the ship when a guest on board needs treatment on the ground.”
“The ship then resumed its route to New York and arrived as scheduled on Monday morning,” the spokesperson added.
Carnival Venezia has since set sail on its next scheduled voyage, an 11-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Half Moon Cay.
DailyMail.com has contacted the 920 Rescue Wing for comment.