Dramatic footage shared online shows the moment a US Coast Guard helicopter was almost blown into the ocean, during the medical evacuation of a cruise ship passenger.

The MH60 Jayhawk and crew were dispatched to the Carnival Dream cruise liner, which was sailing off the coast of Alabama, after reports that a 76-year-old passenger was suffering heart attack-like symptoms.

Poor weather conditions hampered the rescue attempts, with strong winds and poor visibility in the area of the vessel after the helicopter arrived at the scene.

The crew, from the Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, were attempting to hoist a ship’s nurse onto the helicopter when it began rocking violently from side to side and was then swept away from the ship by a strong gust.

In the video captured on deck, the helicopter can be seen tumbling down towards the ocean before halting just metres above the waves, as stunned onlookers shout in disbelief.

In a statement, US Coast Guard officials confirmed the incident occurred after the Jayhawk aircrew arrived on scene and lowered their rescue swimmer. While hoisting a cruise ship nurse, a severe squall caused the aircrew to back off from the ship. The helicopter then encountered a severe downwind, prompting the aircrew to ‘recover the aircraft close to the water’s surface.’

A second Air Station New Orleans Jayhawk helicopter aircrew later returned to the scene, hoisted the patient and rescue swimmer, and transferred the patient to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

The Coast Guard shared a video of the successful medical evacuation.

“During the rescue, the aircrew experienced severe and rapidly deteriorating weather that forced them to abort the mission,” says Cmdr. Keith Blair, commanding officer of Air Station New Orleans. “Through exceptional real-time risk management, crew resource management, and superb piloting, the aircrew was able to safely recover the aircraft and land at the air station without further incident.”

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