WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard carried out two emergency medical evacuations by helicopter from Klein Curaçao within a 24-hour period this weekend. Both operations were coordinated through the Maritime Operations Center, the region’s central hub for maritime emergencies.
On Saturday evening, April 19, a 38-year-old man from Curaçao sustained a head injury. After consultation with a physician from CITRO, the emergency medical response organization for maritime incidents, it was determined that the man required further treatment. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to transport him to Hato Airport, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to the Curaçao Medical Center.
The second incident occurred the following morning, Sunday, April 20, when a 45-year-old Brazilian tourist showed signs of a suspected stroke. Again, after medical evaluation by CITRO, it was decided that urgent helicopter evacuation was necessary. The patient was flown to Curaçao and also admitted to the Curaçao Medical Center for further care.
The back-to-back rescues underscore the Coast Guard’s critical role in providing rapid emergency response to the more remote parts of the Dutch Caribbean.