Cruise ship passenger is airlifted

A Sligo based helicopter has airlifted a passenger from a cruise ship off the Irish coast.

The Coast Guard helicopter (R118) was called to the cruise ship, Marco Polo, after they received a call saying a passenger was “in need of urgent medical attention”.

Malin Rescue Coordination Centre received the early morning request from the UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency last Wednesday.

In a statement the Department of Transport confirmed that the rendezvous with the ship took place approximately 190 miles west of Erris Head shortly before 08.30am.

The Coast Guard was due to being the patient to University Hospital Galway, but had to be re-routed to Sligo airport due to weather conditions.

The patient was transferred by ambulance from the airport to Sligo University Hospital.