Cruise Ship Passenger Fighting for Life After Falling Ill

A cruise vacation turned into a terrifying medical emergency when a passenger became critically ill hundreds of miles from help, forcing the Canadian military to launch a dramatic rescue mission at sea.

The emergency unfolded early Saturday, Sept. 12, aboard the Celebrity Solstice as the cruise ship sailed roughly 125 miles off the coast of Port Hardy, British Columbia.

The Royal Canadian Air Force received the call for help around 3:51 a.m. after the passenger reportedly suffered a serious medical emergency.

With the ship far from shore, the 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was called into action.

A CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft were dispatched to reach the vessel, while the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria oversaw the operation.

Crews reached the Celebrity Solstice around 7:25 a.m.

Two highly trained search-and-rescue technicians were lowered from the helicopter onto the cruise ship’s deck, where they evaluated the sick passenger and prepared the patient for the dangerous transfer.

The passenger was then hoisted from the ship into the hovering helicopter along with a travel companion and a member of the cruise ship’s medical staff.

The rescue technicians were brought aboard shortly afterward.

Meanwhile, the Kingfisher aircraft remained overhead and helped coordinate the operation with the ship’s captain while providing support for the helicopter crew.

Once the passenger was safely aboard, the helicopter began the roughly 180-mile flight south to Comox, British Columbia.

Critical care paramedics were waiting when the aircraft arrived around 10:15 a.m.

The passenger was immediately transferred to an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Officials have not released the passenger’s identity or provided an update on the person’s condition.

The frightening emergency happened during a seven-day Alaska cruise that departed Vancouver on Sept. 6.

The Celebrity Solstice later returned to Vancouver and departed again for another scheduled voyage.

Celebrity Cruises has been contacted for additional information about the incident.