The Indian Coast Guard Ship C-158 conducted a successful medical evacuation at sea, ensuring the timely and safe transfer of a passenger in need. The incident took place when a distress call was received from the passenger vessel Celebrity Millennium, which was positioned 40 km inside the sea, facing a medical emergency.
The alert, received at 19:25 hrs on 19th February 2024, reported that a 53-year-old Mexican citizen named Mr. Fernando Cruz Mendez was suffering from a heart attack. The vessel had departed from Mormugao and was en route to Mumbai. Upon receiving the distress call, the Coast Guard Headquarters in Goa promptly diverted ICGS C-158, which was on area patrol, to provide immediate assistance. The Coast Guard vessel reached alongside the Celebrity Millennium at 21:30 hrs for the evacuation of the patient.
At approximately 21:40 hrs, ICGS C-158 successfully disengaged from MV Celebrity Millennium, taking aboard the patient, the patient's wife, and one medical attendant. The Coast Guard ship then set course towards Mormugao Harbour. ICGS C-158 reached the harbor at 23:30 hrs, where the patient was handed over to an ambulance provided by the port agent. The ambulance transported Mr. Fernando Cruz Mendez to the SMRC (Sada Medical Research Centre) in Goa for further medical management.