USCG release - U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force medevac multiple passengers from cruise ship off Washington coast SEATTLE – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Coast Guard successfully coordinated two separate medical evacuations Sunday from the cruise ship Ruby Princess, approximately 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery, Washington, Sunday, August 24.  Sunday morning, Coast Guard Northwest District watchstanders received notification from the cruise ship Ruby Princess that two patients onboard required immediate medical evacuations. One was a 52-year-old female passenger who had suffered sudden cardiac arrest and was on life support. The other was 99-year-old male passenger suffering from complete esophageal obstruction.   The operation involved simultaneous rescue efforts coordinated between Canadian and U.S. assets, including a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from RCAF 19 Wing Comox, and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from USCG Air Station Port Angeles. The Kingfisher aircraft provided aerial oversight and coordination throughout the entire mission.  A MH-65 helicopter from USCG Air Station Port Angeles was launched to medevac the 99-year-old. The crew successfully hoisted the patient from the cruise ship and conducted a wing-to-wing transfer with Life Flight Network at Neah Bay, Washington.  Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria launched CH-149 Cormorant from 19 Wing Comox to conduct a medical evacuation of the 52-year-old female. RCAF 909 successfully hoisted the patient and transported her to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC.  “This case demonstrates how our specialized expertise and dedicated training allows us to rapidly respond to these types of time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea,“ said Cmdr. Kelly Higgins, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. “The expert coordination between the Canadian Coast Guard, the Life Flight Network, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured this patient received the care they needed.”