Coast Guard Rescues Ill Passenger from Cruise Ship Off California Coast

A 63-year-old man was airlifted to safety after experiencing severe abdominal pain on a ship located 170 miles from Los Angeles.

The U.S. Coast Guard received a medevac request early Saturday morning for a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship.
The cruise ship was initially over 1,000 miles from San Diego, requiring a communications schedule until it was within helicopter range.
A Jayhawk helicopter successfully hoisted the man from the ship on Sunday afternoon, more than 36 hours after the initial distress call.
The rescue operation was supported by a C-27 Spartan aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento.
This marks the first rescue conducted by the newly established Coast Guard Air Station Ventura.