Woman winched from cruise ship off Surf Coast, flown to hospital in critical condition

A woman has been winched from a cruise ship off the Surf Coast and flown to a Melbourne hospital in a critical condition.

A helicopter hovers above a cruise ship (believed to be a Virgin vessel) off the Surf Coast. A very ill passenger was transported to hospital by air ambulance as early morning beachgoers watched on. Picture: Shaun Viljoen

An elderly woman was winched from a cruise ship in a dramatic early morning rescue off the Surf Coast on Wednesday.

Paramedics were called to the ship about 4.30am after reports a woman was experiencing a medical episode, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said

The air ambulance lowers its winch above the ship’s deck. Picture: Shaun Viljoen.

The helicopter rescue did not take place until about 7.30am. The cruise ship appeared to move closer to shore with the operation visible from the beach at Jan Juc and Torquay.

Dog walkers and surfers watched on as the incident unfolded. The skies were mostly clear and the ocean was smooth with only a small wind chop.

The chopper circled the vessel before hovering low and extending a winch.

The ship did not appear to have a helipad suitable for the air ambulance.

“A woman believed to be in her 70s (was) winched by air ambulance,” the spokeswoman said.

“At this stage, she will be flown to the Alfred Hospital, believed to be in a critical condition.”

The cruise ship is believed to a part of the Virgin Voyages fleet.

The vessel quickly moved back out to sea after the rescue.

Originally published as Woman winched from cruise ship off Surf Coast, flown to hospital in critical condition