British national evacuated from ship off Goa

The Indian Coast Guard evacuated a critically ill British national off the Goa coast on Thursday.

Stephen Woodford, 67, suffered a cardiac arrest on his voyage to Abu Dhabi on board RMS MV Queen Mary 2, a trans-Atlantic ocean liner which departed from Kochi.

At 1700 hrs, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai was alerted by M/s Carnival Maritime Hamburg Germany about the medical emergency onboard the Bermuda-flagged passenger ship RMS MV Queen Mary 2.

"The passenger was critically ill and was in need of immediate medical attention," Coast Guard officials said on Friday.

ICG C-158, an interceptor boat was launched and ICGS Amal on surveillance mission was also immediately diverted to attend the emergency.

In a speedy mission, Indian Coast Guard boat reached the ocean liner and the passenger was evacuated off Goa. The passenger was shifted to Manipal Hospital in Goa.