Ailing passengers airlifted from three cruise ships off California, Coast Guard says

Helicopters rescued four ill passengers from three cruise ships at sea off the California coast within 24 hours, U.S. Coast Guard officials reported.

The series of ocean rescues began at about 7 p.m. Friday, April 28, when the cruise ship Carnival Panorama requested help, a Coast Guard news release said.

A Coast Guard helicopter airlifted a 47-year-old woman with a progressive acute illness from the ship about 100 miles south of San Diego, the release said.

At 10:20 p.m. Friday, the cruise ship Majestic Princess requested help with two passengers needing medical assistance about 500 miles west of Los Angeles.

A Coast Guard helicopter met the ship at about 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, closer to shore to pick up a 74-year-old woman with symptoms of a stroke and a 77-year-old woman with kidney failure, the release said.

At 12:20 p.m .Saturday, the cruise ship Carnival Spirit radioed for help with an 84-year-old woman possibly suffering a stroke about 86 miles from San Clemente Island, Coast Guard officials said.

The helicopter completing the evacuation of the two women from the Majestic Princess was sent to pick up that patient as well, the release said. The crew flew for more than seven hours Saturday.

This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Ailing passengers airlifted from three cruise ships off California, Coast Guard says."