C.G. Medevacs Ship Passenger

By Sentinel Staff

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter medevacked a 64-year-old male cruise ship passenger with stroke symptoms early today in Chatham Strait.

Sector Juneau called Air Station Sitka at 6:18 a.m. after the cruise ship Norwegian Encore reported the emergency, and the helicopter took off at 7 a.m. The closest land point to the ship was Kingsmill Point, on the northwest end of Kuiu Island, so the ship slowed while the rescue swimmer was lowered to the deck, to assist the patient for the hoist.

The man was flown to Sitka, where he was met at 8:12 a.m. by an EMS crew and taken to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center.