"U.S. COAST GUARD RESUE AT SEA"

It was a rainy and windy afternoon. We were getting ready for dinner when the Captain came over the loud speaker and announced that there would be a helicopter rescue at sea since the ship"s medical facilities were unable to handle a patient's medical emergency. We would hear very loud noises of 2 helicopters. If we wished to watch the rescue we were to go to the 13th floor in sight of where the helicopter would land. The staff would alert us to the one area where we could watch the action. It was raining so I grabbed my hooded winter jacket and run to the elevators. What was I thinking -- great blip opportunity. So there I was with all the younger crowd -- waiting and watching.

When one of the helicopter was within range a line was dropped to the bridge and a medical rescue worker was lowered. Then a stretcher was lowered and that's when the ship started to rock because the rain and wind had increased in intensity. They quickly got the patient strapped to the stretcher and began to pull the stretcher up however because of the wind and rain the stretcher kept flying about and finally they were able to pull it into the open door of the helicopter. It appeared to be touch and go for those watching and we collectively commented that we hoped the patient had been sedated . . .

We in the "audience" couldn't believe the difficultly that was encountered but finally success. The stretcher was in the helicopter and the helicopter flew away.

The Captain announced that we were to leave the deck -- which we did. By now everyone was wet and chilled. After a hot shower we were ready for dinner and the Captain announced that the patient was in critical condition and to please keep the patient in our thoughts and prayers.

Which we did! As we approached New York Harbor the next morning we were told that the patient's condition was critical but stable. Because of the patient privacy act we were not told who - what - why - where --?

I took many shots but this one tells the story . . .