Once again, the heroes of the US Coast Guard came to the rescue when the Houston-Galveston team saved a passenger who had just begun their journey on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.
A 71-year-old male passenger on board the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship had to be medically evacuated on Saturday, October 26, 2024. The ship had just departed from Galveston at 2 p.m. for its 7-night voyage in the Gulf of Mexico, when the guest required emergency medical attention.
The Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston was alerted to the situation at around 5:19 p.m. by a crew member on board the 5,374-passenger ship. The ship was headed to its first stop in Roatan, Honduras.
The man, showing signs of a heart attack, prompted the Coast Guard to dispatch a 45-foot response boat from Station Galveston for a medevac. The Galveston Fire Department was called upon to provide assistance.
The crew safely escorted the passenger on scene, while the fire department and local EMS teams awaited their arrival. They promptly transported him to a nearby medical facility for further treatment. No additional information regarding the passenger has been disclosed.
The Carnival Jubilee, a magnificent cruise ship with a gross tonnage of 183,521, became part of the cruise line fleet in December 2023. It proudly calls Galveston its homeport throughout the year. Currently, the ship is sailing out at sea on October 28, with exciting stops planned in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The Carnival Jubilee will make its way back to Galveston on November 2, 2024.
Recent Surge in Coast Guard Rescues
A Carnival cruise has been stopped shortly after departure before due to a medical emergency in the past.
In August 2024, Carnival Venezia had only been sailing for a few hours from the Port of Manhattan in New York when a 56-year-old woman faced a sudden emergency. She needed to be airlifted by a team from Coast Guard Sector New York.
In a remarkable turn of events, the Coast Guard in Honolulu, Hawaii, found themselves conducting back-to-back rescues on board Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess during the ship’s 114-night world cruise. The vessel’s doctors reached out to the rescue team in Honolulu with urgent cases: a 70-year-old man experiencing symptoms of a heart attack and an 86-year-old man suffering from internal bleeding.
During the intense airlift, the Coast Guard utilized two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters to swiftly transport the passengers to Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii.
Rescues at sea by the Coast Guard involve a well-coordinated effort that requires effective communication between cruise ships, command centers, and onboard duty flight surgeons. These medical professionals play a crucial role in assessing the severity of each case, ensuring timely and appropriate rescue operations.
When the Coast Guard determines that a medevac is necessary, they dispatch their teams using helicopters or rescue boats, depending on the location and level of urgency. One thing that stands out in each rescue operation is the Coast Guard’s extensive training in handling difficult rescues from large vessels and providing medical assistance during transit.