A 24-year-old fisherman was airlifted to hospital in Halifax thanks to a rescue operation that involved the work of the militaries of three countries.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received a call on Saturday about a man experiencing medical issues.

The call came from the general area where Cutlass Fury, an anti-submarine warfare exercise, involving 11 warships and more than 24 aircraft simulating military activities about 160 kilometres southeast of Halifax, is happening.

Royal Navy vessel HMS Monmouth was close enough to the fishing boat that it sent over its doctor, Sub.-Lt. Blair Gilmore with the Joint Rescue Command Centre said Saturday afternoon.

"The original plan was to send a Cormorant helicopter from Greenwood out to pick this fellow up, but the doctor said, 'No, we haven't got the three hours to wait for the Cormorant to get here'," Gilmore said.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CUTLASSFURY?src=hash">#CUTLASSFURY</a> ships effectively reacted to a real-world SAR. Medevac showed how Maritime assets can respond quickly <a href="https://t.co/HuOQZRobVg">pic.twitter.com/HuOQZRobVg</a> —@JTFAtlantic

As a result, a helicopter was sent from the U.S. Navy's Robert E. Peary to pick up the patient and take him to the Robert Stanfield International Airport just outside of Halifax. From there, the man was taken by ambulance to the QEII hospital in Halifax, said Gilmore.

The man's condition is not known.

Gilmore said the rescue effort is one to be proud of.

"It's a excellent example of how three countries worked together to save this man's life," he said.