Tenerife cruise ship drama with daring rescue mission to rescue ‘critically ill’ patient

The rescue was from an Aidamar ship (Image: AIDA)

The Spanish Air Force carried out a rescue in the early hours of Sunday morning, with personnel saving a "critically ill" tourist aboard a cruise ship.

The Aidamar vessel was located more than 600 kilometres southwest of Tenerife.

A statement from the Spanish Ministry of Defence said that a Super Puma helicopter was deployed to airlift a German woman, 61, who was suffering severe complications from a pulmonary infection.

Canarian Weekly reports that the mission involved the coordinated use of additional aircraft and advanced satellite communications.

A D.4 VIGMA aircraft was activated to provide wind data at altitude, and the aircraft established contact with the ship.

The cruise was sailing off the coast of Tenerife (Image: Getty)

This move offered guidance to facilitate the helicopter’s approach. The helicopter crew was equipped with military medical personnel.

So the airlift of the woman could go ahead, the cruise ship maintained a steady course and speed that was directed by the VIGMA aircraft.

The passenger was then hoisted aboard the helicopter before it headed to El Hierro Airport.

The facility had to activate its facilities outside normal operating hours to accommodate the mission, it has been reported.