British tourists donate blood to save critically ill man on Queen Mary 2 cruise ship The emergency transfusion kept the man alive for long enough for him to be evacuated to a helicopter

A man who fell critically ill on board a luxury cruise liner is in a stable condition after dozens of British tourists donated blood.

The 68-year-old US national became seriously unwell during a 26 day voyage travelling from Southampton to the United States.

According to The Telegraph the captain of the Cunard ship Queen Mary 2, which was travelling around the Caribbean, put out an urgent request for passengers with the same blood type.

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The emergency transfusion kept the man alive for long enough for him to be evacuated by the crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the Puerto Rican capital San Jaun, located 75 nautical miles north of the liner.

Mid-ocean rescue mission

After linking up with the ship, a rescue swimmer from the helicopter crew boarded the cruise ship to assess the patient’s condition.

Multiple hoists were used to rescue the patient and his wife, before flying to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, where emergency service workers transferred the man to the nearest hospital.

The ship had been en route to New York at the time of rescue, but US hospitals were further away.

Bob Johnson, from Suffolk, who was on board the Queen Mary, said: “The Captain asked for blood donors with the right blood group and more than 60 people volunteered.

“We were told the condition of the ill passenger was stabilised with a transfusion and then they were picked up by American coastguard helicopter and flown to the nearest hospital, which was in Puerto Rico.”

Trained for rescue

Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Tootle, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flight mechanic for the medical evacuation, said: “I am happy that we were able to help the patient and his partner make it safely to the hospital.

“The training we complete prepared us well for this mission and for my first successful live hoist.”

Cunard has been contacted for comment.