Swift medevac on the Baltic. Air Force helicopter evacuates passenger from Victoria Seaways
Late Monday night, a coordinated maritime rescue operation unfolded in the Baltic Sea. At 23:04 local time, Lithuania’s Naval Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a distress call from the Victoria Seaways ferry en route from Klaipėda to Kiel.
In brief
An Air Force rescue helicopter evacuated a sick passenger from the ferry Victoria Seaways sailing from Klaipėda to Kiel. The report of the deteriorating health of the woman, aged about 40 to 45, was received at 23:04 by the Polish Navy Maritime Search and Rescue Centre, when the ferry was about 30 nautical miles from Klaipėda. The patient was handed over to a medical team from the Klaipėda Seamen's Hospital.
A female passenger, aged approximately 40–45, had suffered a sudden medical emergency and her condition was deteriorating rapidly. With the vessel positioned about 30 nautical miles off Klaipėda, MRCC made the decision to deploy an Air Force SAR helicopter.
The crew successfully hoisted the patient from the ferry deck and flew her to Klaipėda, where she was handed over to the medical team at the city’s Seamen’s Hospital for urgent treatment.
Maritime authorities praised the seamless coordination between the ferry crew, MRCC operators, and the helicopter team.
- Every minute counts in such situations – quick decision-making and precise execution are crucial, a spokesperson said.
The incident highlights the critical role of airborne SAR assets in safeguarding passenger safety on Baltic ferry routes.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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