Coast Guard Medevacs Crew Member from Celebrity Edge off New South Wales: Incident on 3 November 2024

On 3 November 2024, the cruise ship Celebrity Edge, operated by Celebrity Cruises, altered course off the coast of New South Wales to facilitate the medical evacuation of a male crew member. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) coordinated the rescue operation in conjunction with Toll Ambulance Rescue and a rescue aircraft from Essendon, Melbourne, ensuring the crew member received timely medical attention.

The medevac was completed successfully at sea southeast of Eden, NSW, with the crew member winched from the vessel and airlifted to a hospital in Bega. The incident caused a minor deviation from the ship's itinerary but did not compromise passenger safety or operational continuity.

As Celebrity Edge was returning to its homeport following a 4-day Tasmania cruise itinerary, the master received notification of the crew member's medical emergency. AMSA coordinated a rendezvous point at sea southeast of Eden, NSW. A Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter was dispatched from Wollongong, with additional support provided by a rescue aircraft from Essendon, Melbourne. The crew member was successfully winched from the ship and airlifted directly to a hospital in Bega, NSW, for emergency medical treatment.

Fatalities

• None reported.

Injuries

• One male crew member requiring emergency medical evacuation; specific medical condition not disclosed in source.

Rescued

• One crew member successfully airlifted and transported to hospital in Bega, NSW.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) coordinated the entire medevac operation. A Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopter was dispatched from Wollongong, and a rescue aircraft from Essendon, Melbourne provided additional support. The crew member was winched from the vessel at the designated rendezvous point and airlifted directly to hospital in Bega for emergency medical care.

Celebrity Edge resumed its voyage to homeport following the successful evacuation. The incident caused only a minor deviation from the ship's planned itinerary and did not affect passenger safety or operational continuity.