Navy coordinates rescue of two foreign citizens in the Azores – Portugal

The Navy coordinated the medical rescue actions of two foreign citizens who were on board a sailboat and a passenger ship off the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, it was announced this Monday.

According to a statement from the Navy, the rescues ended this Monday, although one began on Saturday and another on Sunday.

According to the note, on Saturday the Navy, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center of Ponta Delgada (MRCC Delgada), in conjunction with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Halifax (Canada), with the Guidance Center for Urgent Patients – Maritime (CODU – MAR) and the Lajes Air Search and Rescue Coordinating Center (RCC Lajes), coordinated the medical rescue of a 48-year-old passenger, French nationality.

The foreigner was on board the sailboat “Grain de Sail”, flying the French flag, “sailing approximately 639 nautical miles, equivalent to 1,183 kilometers, north of the island of São Miguel”.

“The ship made a request for assistance to JRCC Halifax, which requested the support of MRCC Delgada to coordinate the rescue because the ship, although it was in the Canadian Maritime Search and Rescue area, was closer to the Azores island”, reads the note.

On Sunday, the Navy, through MRCC Delgada, in conjunction with CODU – MAR and RCC Lajes, coordinated the medical rescue of a 63-year-old passenger, of North American nationality, who was on board the passenger ship ” Scarlet Lady”, flying the Bahamas flag, sailing approximately 310 nautical miles, the equivalent of 574 kilometers, south of the Azorean island of São Miguel.

“The passenger showed signs of Cardiorespiratory Arrest (CPA) requiring immediate hospital medical care”, the note states.

According to the Navy, in both situations, “the NRP [Navio da República Portuguesa] António Enes was committed to establishing himself as a security unit for the helicopter, essential for carrying out the flight operation over the sea”.

The rescues were carried out by the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) EH-101 helicopter, which individually transported the patients to Ponta Delgada airport, in São Miguel, and were subsequently taken to a hospital unit.