3 passengers airlifted from cruise ships off Gold Coast in 24 hours

THREE people from two separate cruise ships have been evacuated off the Gold Coast in just 24 hours.

The rescue chopper approaches the Pacific Pearl 70 nautical miles east of the Gold Coast.

THREE people from two separate cruise ships have been evacuated off the Gold Coast in just 24 hours.

Rescue 500, the Queensland Government air rescue helicopter yesterday completed a stretcher winch recovery of a male patient from the Pacific Pearl cruise ship more than 70 nautical miles east of the Gold Coast.

The winch occurred while the vessel was running at sea at around 15 knots.

The sick patient was transported to hospital while the vessel continued south.

The P&O vessel arrived in Sydney this morning.

This morning another P & O cruise ship, the Pacific Jewel, was seen off the Gold Coast this morning after a crew member and a passenger became sick with unrelated illnesses.

A male patient is taken from the Pacific Pearl cruise ship 70 nautical miles east of the Gold Coast. Image from video

A P&O spokesman confirmed the ship had been re-routed to allow for the evacuation.

“A routine medical evacuation took place, coincidently a passenger and crew member had separate medical conditions which required attention shoreside,” he said.

“We arranged for Pacific Jewel to come close to the Gold Coast this morning so that two separate helicopter evacuations could occur.

“It performed two runs.”

According to cruise ship position tracking it moved west towards the Gold Coast off Burleigh Heads before circling back east.

Coast residents reported seeing helicopters flying above it.

The male is winched from the deck of the Pacific Pearl.

The Pacific Jewel is now steaming south on its way to Sydney and is currently off Pottsville.

The course of the Pacific Jewel off the Gold Coast.