Port Angeles – U.S. and Canadian crews worked together Sunday to carry out two separate emergency medical evacuations aboard the cruise ship Ruby Princess as it sailed west of Cape Flattery.

The ship’s crew radioed early Sunday that two passengers needed immediate medical care.

One was a 52-year-old woman who had suffered sudden cardiac arrest and was placed on life support. The other was a 99-year-old man who had a complete esophageal obstruction between his throat and stomach.

The dual operation required resources from both nations. The Royal Canadian Air Force launched a helicopter and a Kingfisher aircraft from British Columbia. At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard sent a Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles.

The Kingfisher aircraft helped provide aerial coordination

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