The ‘Norwegian Bliss’ passenger was rescued off the coast of North Carolina and was transferred to a hospital in Virginia in “stable condition”

U.S. Coast Guard members airlift ‘Norwegian Bliss’ passengers from the vessel, sailing off the coast of North Carolina, on Nov. 2.Credit: USCG East District/X
U.S. Coast Guard members airlift ‘Norwegian Bliss’ passengers from the vessel, sailing off the coast of North Carolina, on Nov. 2.
Credit: USCG East District/X

NEED TO KNOW

  • A Norwegian Bliss passenger was airlifted from the ship by the U.S. Coast Guard about 32 miles off Oregon Inlet, N.C., on Monday
  • A second passenger was also hoisted aboard the Coast Guard helicopter during the rescue
  • The patient arrived at a Virginia hospital in “stable condition” for further care, authorities confirmed

A cruise passenger experiencing a medical emergency at sea required the assistance of the United States Coast Guard to airlift them off the vessel — a dramatic rescue that was captured on video. 

On Monday, Nov. 2, an aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City, located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, was called to respond to the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship. At the time, the vessel was sailing about 32 miles off Oregon Inlet, N.C., according to a social media post from the USGC EastDistrict. 

Video released by the Coast Guard shows a crew member rappelling from a helicopter down to the ship’s helipad. After reaching the deck, the Coast Guard member then hoisted up the passenger in a basket stretcher. A second passenger, seated upright in a chair, was also airlifted to the aircraft. 

According to the Coast Guard, the passenger was transferred in “stable condition” to the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia for further care. 

The identity of the passenger was not immediately made available. The nature of their emergency has also not been confirmed. 

The ‘Norwegian Bliss’ cruise shipCredit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty
The ‘Norwegian Bliss’ cruise ship
Credit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty

PEOPLE has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard East District for more information. 

Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. 

According to CruiseMapper, the Norwegian Bliss was on an eight-night, round-trip sailing to Port Canaveral in Orlando, Fla., Nassau, Bahamas, and Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. The ship departed New York City on Nov. 1 and is scheduled to return on Nov. 9. 

The Nov. 2 incident comes on the heels of another dramatic rescue that occurred about 150 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico on Monday, Oct. 26. According to a social media post from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, it involved an 81-year-old man on board Windstar’s Star Pride.

Sector San Juan had initially received a medical evacuation request on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the vessel was located about 900 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard and cruise ship maintained continuous communication and a MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched the following Monday. 

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Following the incident, the patient was transferred directly to Centro Médico Hospital in San Juan for “advanced medical care.” 



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