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Canadian rescue technicians were called into action this weekend to help with two simultaneous but unrelated medical evacuations from a cruise ship off the Washington state coast.
It happened on Sunday, when the U.S. Coast Guard received a call from the Ruby Princess cruise ship about two patients in need of immediate airlift.
A 52-year-old woman had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and was on life support, while a 99-year-old man had suffered from complete esophageal obstruction.
Canada deployed a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and one of its new CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from RCAF 19 Wing Comox, while the U.S. Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Port Angeles.
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Rescue at sea performed by Canadian and U.S. crews
The Kingfisher acted as spotter, keeping in visual and radio contact with all parties and co-ordinating the operation. The Canadian crew evacuated the female patient, and the U.S. crew evacuated the male patient from the cruise ship.
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The woman was taken to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, while the man was transported to Neah Bay, Wash.
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It’s the second time in recent weeks that a Canadian crew has been deployed to assist their counterparts in Washington state.
In late July, a Kingfisher was deployed to provide oversight as a U.S. chopper airlifted a Canadian mariner from a vessel on the Oregon coast.
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