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Breathtaking video shows pregnant Disney cruise passenger dangling over the ocean in Coast Guard rescue

By
Yaron Steinbuch
Published April 17, 2024, 9:21 a.m. ET
Dramatic video captures chopper pulling pregnant woman from Disney cruise ship
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Dramatic video captured the moment a pregnant woman suffering medical complications was airlifted from a Disney cruise ship.

Footage posted by the US Coast Guard shows a rescuer being lowered onto the Disney Fantasy on Monday in the Atlantic Ocean, about 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

The 35-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, is then seen being raised by a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk chopper to be flown to a hospital.

The Disney cruise ship where the pregnant passenger was airlifted from.
The Disney cruise ship from which the pregnant passenger was airlifted. United States Coast Guard News
The Coast Guard helicopter at the scene.
The Coast Guard helicopter at the scene. United States Coast Guard News

“Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a communication from the Disney Fantasy Monday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was transiting 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico,” the agency said.

The Coast Guard also deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami to rendezvous with the cruise ship.

Officials seen on the deck of thy ship.
Officials on the deck of the ship. United States Coast Guard News
The passenger being airlifted by the Coast Guard.
The passenger being airlifted by the Coast Guard. United States Coast Guard News

“Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket and litter to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship doctor aboard the aircraft,” the Coast Guard said.

The woman was transported to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was treated at Centro Medico Hospital, officials said.

“Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required,” Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens said in a statement. “This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”

Ensign Michael Riccio, Coast Guard Sector San Juan operations unit leader, said his crew was “glad everything came together to help this passenger.

“The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference,” he said.

It was unclear if the woman’s emergency was related to her pregnancy.

The Post has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment.

According to the company’s frequently asked questions, women must be no more than 23 weeks pregnant in order to set sail. If they enter the 24th week of pregnancy during the sailing, “they will be refused passage due to safety concerns.”