An 8-year-old boy named Daniel Jiang was dramatically airlifted from a cruise ship after suffering a severe medical emergency during a family vacation. Daniel was aboard the Royal Princess cruise, which was traveling from Vancouver to Hawaii, when he developed appendicitis just two days into the trip. His condition quickly deteriorated, prompting urgent action.
After the ship’s doctor determined that Daniel required immediate surgery, his family was faced with a daunting reality—they were miles from land, out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard was called to assist in the risky rescue, which was further complicated by poor weather conditions, including dense fog that made locating the cruise ship incredibly difficult.
Aviation survival technician Philip Morie and helicopter pilot Lt. Katherine McDonnell, who was on her first-ever rescue mission, were dispatched to locate the ship and airlift Daniel to safety. Due to the thick fog, it took some time to spot the massive cruise liner, but once they did, Morie descended from the helicopter and reached the deck, where he secured Daniel in a rescue basket.
As the boy was hoisted up to the helicopter, Morie comforted him throughout the ascent. The footage of the rescue shows Morie providing reassurance to the frightened child. Daniel’s mother and brother were also airlifted after him, and the family was flown to a hospital in Eureka, California, where Daniel underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix. Thankfully, the surgery was a success, and Daniel is expected to make a full recovery.
Nicole Jiang, Daniel’s mother, expressed her overwhelming gratitude to the Coast Guard for their heroic efforts. Describing the rescue as surreal, she said it felt like something out of a dream. A day after the dramatic rescue, the Coast Guard team visited Daniel in the hospital, bringing him posters to commemorate the event. Reflecting on the successful mission, McDonnell expressed pride in completing her first rescue, while Morie highlighted the collective effort, calling it a victory for all involved.
