AW139 helicopter of 460 Cyprus Rescue Squadron responded to the medical emergency while heading for the military parade for the 56th anniversary of Independence of Cyprus. The helicopter changed course and headed for Paphos on Saturday to rescue elderly passenger aboard Celebrity Silhouette. According to the statement released by Cyprus defense ministry, a 70 year-old male US citizen suffered a stroke on a cruise ship sailing 75 nautical miles off the coast of Cyprus. The man was medevacked by helicopter and transferred to the Nicosia general hospital.

The medical evacuation was performed after Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Center received an urgent call by the cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette at around 10.15 a.m. The male passenger had suffered a stroke and was comatose.

Celebrity Silhouette is currently on a 14 Night Israel & Mediterranean Cruise with stops in Civitavecchia, Naples, Ashdod, Haifa, Santorini, Piraeus, La Valletta, and returning to Civitavecchia (Rome), on October 8.