An Unexpected "Excursion" From Dawn Princess

When it became apparent last Friday that Laura Montero, a 14-year-old Illinois girl vacationing aboard Princess Cruise' Dawn Princess, had a "hot" appendix and needed surgery, the cruise ship's captain sent out a distress call that was answered by the USS Ronald Reagan. On training maneuvers about 500 miles away, the nuclear carrier was the closest ship with a hospital facility. According to a news release from the US Navy, the aircraft carrier steamed overnight toward the cruise ship, which was about 250 miles northwest of Cabo San Lucas when the call was received. A helicopter took off from the Reagan before dawn on Saturday to close the final 175-mile gap between the ships. After a 45-minute flight, the crew lowered a medic onto the cruise ship deck and the teen was loaded into a basket, lifted into the helicopter, and flown back to the Reagan for an emergency appendectomy.

Without room on the helicopter to accommodate her, Montero's mother was required to stay aboard the cruise ship. When Dawn Princess docked in San Diego on Sunday, the Navy flew the girl’s mother to the Reagan aboard a C-2 Greyhound carrier onboard delivery flight. The Reagan arrived in San Diego on Tuesday as scheduled and the teen was moved to a civilian hospital. Thanks to the US Navy and crew of the USS Ronald Reagan, Montero is expected to made a full recovery.

Cruise News Daily reports that Dawn Princess' Captain Marco Fortezze and his senior officers will host the Reagan's commanding officer, Captain Terry Kraft and his senior officers at a luncheon aboard the cruise ship when they are once again in port together in San Diego on Jan. 6th.

We wish them Bon Appetit and offer three cheers for a job well done!

Photo: Medical personnel aboard the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan unload 14-year-old Laura Montero from an HH-60H Seahawk on Dec. 15 following an emergency medical evacuation at sea. (MC2 Joseph M. Buliavac/Navy)