A 76-year-old woman suffering a cardiac arrest was winched from a cruise ship 80 nautical miles off the Ballina coastline yesterday.
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter recovered the woman from the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas.
Westpac spokesman Roger Fry said the mission required significant planning by numerous agencies to achieve the recovery of the passenger from the ship.
He said the Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew to the ship twice to complete the mission.
‘Ship access and patient preparation required the helicopter to return to Ballina Airport for fuel whilst the medical team conducted further treatment and prepared the 76-year-old patient for recovery and transfer to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
‘The patient was transported in a critical condition suffering an acute cardiac event.’