The United States Coast Guard responded to an emergency call from a cruise ship at the mouth of the Mississippi River to evacuate a critically injured passenger from the ship.
The rescue took place 65 nautical miles off the coast of Venice, Louisiana, Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a request at 1:14 a.m. for the medevac of a 23-year-old man with multiple significant injuries after he fell aboard the cruise ship Carnival Valor.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and aircrew was scrambled from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans to rendevous with the ship and airlift the injured passenger.
The aircrew arrived on scene at 5:45 a.m., hoisted the man, and the ships doctor and transported them to New Orleans University Medical Hospital.
The man arrived in critical condition.