Dramatic Rescue Off Fred Olsen’s Braemar in Choppy English Channel
A tense rescue unfolded in the English Channel this morning as a Coastguard helicopter airlifted an unwell passenger from Fred Olsen’s Braemar cruise ship amid poor weather and heavy rain. The rough seas made the daring operation far from straightforward.
Coastguard Scrambles at Dawn
The search and rescue chopper launched from Lee-on-the-Solent just after 12:45am on Wednesday. It raced to the Braemar, positioned about four miles off Ventnor. Bad weather hampered the helicopter’s approach, making the mission even more challenging for the crew.
Passenger Airlifted to Safety
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson confirmed: “At 11.50pm, we received a call from the Braemar for assistance with an unwell passenger. The Coastguard rescue helicopter airlifted the casualty to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Portsmouth where they are receiving medical care.
Cruise Resumes Route to Rotterdam
Following the successful rescue, the Braemar has resumed its journey, heading towards Rotterdam in the Netherlands as planned.
