SAN DIEGO – At approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego received a report from the crew of cruise ship Norwegian Pearl stating that a male passenger was experiencing symptoms of heart failure, kidney failure and pneumonia.
The Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended that the patient be medically evacuated and taken to a hospital for emergency care. The Norwegian Pearl was more than 250 miles south of San Diego, and a closer rendezvous point was established.
A Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched at 5:48 p.m., arrived at the predetermined position and safely hoisted the man from the cruise ship at approximately 7:30 p.m.
At 8:15 p.m., the helicopter crew landed at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, where the patient was transferred to awaiting EMS.
His condition is unknown.