Baby Medevaced from Cruiseship in Gulf of Mexico

 

A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced an 8-month-old baby girl from the cruise ship Carnival Triumph early Monday morning, 140 miles southeast of Galveston.

"It was very rewarding to be able to start a search-and-rescue career helping out a mother and her 8-month-old who really needed us at the time," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Grow, in reference to his first rescue as a qualified flight mechanic.

At 7:15 p.m. Sunday, the Carnival Triumph's crew called Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston to request a medical evacuation for a baby suffering from seizures and trouble breathing, while the ship was about 230 miles southeast of Galveston. A Coast Guard flight surgeon concurred with the cruise ship's medical staff for the necessity of the medevac. An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched to medevac the baby, her mother and the nurse caring for her.

The aircrew arrived at 11:48 p.m., about 140 miles off Galveston, and Petty Officer Grow hoisted the three aboard. They stopped to refuel at a rig in the gulf and proceeded toward Houston. The helicopter landed at Memorial Hermann hospital at 2:13 a.m. and safely delivered the passengers.

Grow was recently qualified as a flight mechanic in December and was on duty for his second time when the call came in for the medevac. Flight mechanics monitor flight systems and operate the hoist when rescuing people.