ORANJESTAD, Aruba – A German tourist aboard a cruise ship sailing north of Aruba suffered a stroke yesterday afternoon and was airlifted to a hospital by the Caribbean Coast Guard.

The Maritime Operational Center (MOC) received a distress call in the late afternoon requesting medical assistance for a 66-year-old passenger on the ship. Coast Guard officials immediately contacted a doctor at CITRO, Aruba’s emergency response center. After consulting with the ship’s medical team, the doctor confirmed the passenger was experiencing a stroke.

With time critical, a Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to the scene. The patient was airlifted and transported to Queen Beatrix International Airport, where an ambulance awaited. The tourist was then transferred to the hospital for further medical treatment.

The cruise ship’s name and the passenger’s condition have not been released.

A spokesperson for AM:news Online stated, “This incident is a remarkable example of how various teams can collaborate to ensure a patient receives timely care. We express our gratitude to the medical personnel on the ship and at CITRO for their prompt and efficient action.”