Search and rescue crews based at 19 Wing Comox have completed three medical evacuations from cruise ships off northern Vancouver Island in less than a week.

The most recent call came Monday, when a passenger in medical distress needed to be evacuated from a ship about 450 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy.

Two search and rescue technicians were lowered from a hovering Cormorant helicopter onto the vessel to prepare the patient for transfer. The passenger was then flown to Port Hardy and handed over to paramedics.

In an earlier mission, crews airlifted a passenger from a cruise ship about 200 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy and flew them to Comox for medical care.

Another call involved a crew member reported to be in critical condition.

That patient was flown to Comox, where B.C. Emergency Health Services arranged immediate transport to hospital.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria deployed a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft for all three operations.

Officials have not released details about the patients’ medical conditions.