The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a 26-year-old crew member from a cargo ship approximately 80 miles offshore Kauai on Thursday morning, June 26th, 2025.
The crew member, aboard the 636-foot cargo ship Aal Kembla, had been experiencing severe abdominal pain for three days. The ship was about 800 miles northwest of Kauai on Tuesday (June 24th) when the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a call at 9:30 a.m. from the vessel’s crewing superintendent requesting assistance.
After consultation with the Coast Guard’s duty flight surgeon, a medevac was recommended. The vessel was advised to continue toward Hawaii while maintaining communication with Coast Guard personnel to monitor the patient’s condition.
At 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 26th, an HC-130 Hercules aircraft launched to conduct a pre-hoist briefing with the ship and provide support. At 5:47 a.m., an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew completed the hoist of the patient and transported him to Lihue Airport.
Emergency medical services met the helicopter at the airport and transferred the crew member to Wilcox Medical Center for further treatment.
PHOTO: An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew member hoists down to the cargo ship Aal Kembla offshore Kauai on June 26th, 2025.
PHOTO: An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew hoists the 26-year-old crew member off the cargo ship Aal Kembla onto the helicopter.
CREDIT: U.S. Coast Guard, Air Station Barbers Point
