8-Year-Old Boy Gets Airlifted Off Cruise Ship by U.S. Coast Guard amid Medical Emergency: See Video

Mar. 15, 2025

The U.S. Coast Guard successfully completed a rescue mission involving an 8-year-old boy who was experiencing a medical emergency on a Princess Cruise Line ship.

TheRoyal Princessship was about 20 miles west of Eureka, Calif. when Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders were notified of the emergency on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at around 7 a.m. local time, according to apress releasefrom the U.S. Coast Guard.

In the notification, crew members received word that “an 8-year-old male passenger onboard was diagnosed with appendicitis and needed to be medevaced,” per the release.

8-year-old boy being airlifted from ‘Royal Princess’ cruise ship.United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

Watchstanders then sent aircrew members on the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter around 8 a.m. local time.

“The aircrew arrived on-scene, hoisted the passenger along with his family into the helicopter,” the release states.

Video footage of the harrowing rescue mission shows an aircrew member helping the boy, named Daniel, into a large metal rescue basket before he’s lifted up into the helicopter. The clip then shows what appears to be two more of his family members being brought up.

8-year-old Daniel inside the rescue basket with a Coast Guard member.United States Coast Guard

Daniel was then taken to Saint Joseph Hospital in Eureka at around 9:40 a.m. local time. His mom, Nicole Jiang, opened up about the harrowing experience during a conversation withGood Morning Americaon Thursday, Sept. 26.

“The doctor in the cruise said the situation is very [much an] emergency … Daniel got [a] very high fever and the situation [grew] worse and worse,” Jiang told the outlet.

Aircrew members recalled how foggy conditions made the rescue mission difficult. Despite the vessel being a “giant cruise ship,” they weren’t able to spot it immediately as a result of the weather, the outlet reports.

Once Daniel was taken to the hospital, he reportedly had his appendix removed successfully and he’s now in recovery.

PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for Princess Cruise Line but did not receive an immediate reply.

Another shot of the Coast Guard member airlifting the boy into the helicopter.United States Coast Guard

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In April, the Coast Guard completed another distressing rescue mission involving apregnant passenger aboard Disney Cruise Line’sDisney Fantasywho was experiencing health complications on the ship.

Video footage from the incident shows crew members transporting the 35-year-old patient on a stretcher and then airlifting her into the MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter.

source: people.com