AN UNWELL crew member evacuated from a cruise ship moored in Weymouth Bay is in “good spirits” following a late-night rescue.
As previously reported, a 43-year-old crew member of the Marella Discovery fell ill with suspected meningitis just before 11pm on Saturday night (November 21).
Weymouth RNLI transferred the casualty to an ambulance waiting on shore.
The team managed to safely transport the person back to Weymouth Harbour by 11.45pm and they were handed over into the care of the paramedics.
The crew member was taken to hospital and tested for Covid-19 and meningitis. The person tested negative for both.
A spokeswoman for TUI UK, which manages the Marella cruise ships, said the crew member is in “good spirits” and is recovering.
She said: “We can confirm that one our crew members onboard Marella Discovery was medically evacuated on Saturday evening, with the assistance of Solent Coastguard and the Weymouth Lifeboat.
“As Marella Cruises operations are currently paused, there were no customers onboard.
“The crew member was taken to hospital and tested for Covid-19 and meningitis. All tests returned negative and the crew member is in good spirits.”
A spokesman for Weymouth RNLI said the crew had returned within an hour of being deployed.
He said: “Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat Ernest and Mabel was launched at 10.53pm on Saturday, November 21 to medically evacuate a crew member from the cruise ship Marella Discovery anchored in Weymouth Bay.
“The lifeboat was on scene at 11.12pm and transferred a 43-year-old crew member from the cruise ship with suspected meningitis onto the lifeboat for transporting back to Weymouth.
“The lifeboat arrived back into the harbour at 11.45pm where the casualty was handed over to a waiting ambulance.
“The lifeboat was then refuelled and made ready for the next shout.”
The Marella Discovery, which has been anchored in Weymouth Bay since July, remains on the Dorset coast along with fellow TUI ships Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2.
The multi-million cruise ship first launched in 1996 and features 11 decks, 918 cabins, seven bars and restaurants and two swimming pools.
It is not known when TUI cruise ships will sail again but the cruise ship industry is discussing a ‘phased restart’ which could commence as early as January 2021.
Got a Dorset story you would like to share or for me to investigate? Contact me at 01305 830999 or email michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk.
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