The U.S. Coast Guard used a helicopter to rescue a passenger off the cruise ship Norwegian Jewel on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a dispatch from the Coast Guard, an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was used to lift a 70-year-old man suffering from a blood clot. Commercial medevac services were unable to use the Skagway airport because of poor weather, and the Coast Guard’s duty flight surgeon recommended the medevac.
The man was taken to Juneau, where he was picked up by ambulance.
“Coordination between the cruise ship, Coast Guard watchstanders and the helicopter rescue crew greatly contributed to a timely rescue,” said Master Chief Petty Officer James Armstrong, 17th Coast Guard District’s command duty officer, in a prepared statement. “The Coast Guard was able to respond quickly despite the weather.”
Wednesday’s medevac follows one on Monday in which a 96-year-old suffered a heart attack.
