Upon arrival the fireboat crew was advised that there was one patient in cardiac arrest and two other patients with non-life threatening injuries. The three incidents were unrelated and occurred within a one hour time frame, according to the ships medical staff. MDFR requested assistance from the City of Miami Fireboat to transport one of the stable patients. Air Rescue North hoisted the critical patient first into the helicopter and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. The third patient, who suffered a leg injury, was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Last night’s hoist operation was the fifth in the past six months and the second off a cruise ship out at sea. MDFR’s Air Rescue and Fireboat are essential assets in providing rapid maritime rescue and medical services to residents and visitors of Miami-Dade County and its waterways.

WHO:              Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department                      
WHAT:           Media Availability for Air Rescue Crew         
WHEN:           2 p.m. - 4 p.m., April 21, 2015
WHERE:       Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Air Rescue South
                        14150 SW 127 Street
                        Miami, FL 33186

For more information, please contact MDFR’s Public Affairs Bureau at 786-331-5200.

*Editor’s note: video from the hoist operation is available for download. Photos and video credit Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.