Algerian naval forces carried out a medical evacuation of a British cruise passenger from the Sky Princess while the vessel was transiting international waters off Algeria’s northeastern coast.
The rescue happened on Wednesday morning, October 8, when the Sky Princess was sailing between Italy and Spain.
The distress signal was received at 10:40 a.m. local time by the National Maritime Surveillance and Rescue Operations Center, which operates under the National Coast Guard Service.
The emergency involved a 77-year-old British national who suffered a serious medical condition requiring urgent hospital care. The vessel was approximately 35 nautical miles north of Cap de Fer, in the Skikda Province maritime zone at the time of the call.
Video of the rescue
Responding immediately, the Algerian Naval Forces dispatched an AS-14 search and rescue helicopter from the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron. The operation was coordinated with the regional surveillance and rescue center in Jijel.
Once the helicopter reached the cruise ship’s coordinates, the patient was safely evacuated and transfered directly to El Hadjar Hospital in Annaba, where admitted for specialized medical treatment. No complications were reported during the airlift or transfer.
The Sky Princess continued its voyage toward Spain following the medevac. Cruise operations were reported as stable post-evacuation.
