Dramatic moment cruise passenger is airlifted from 1,000ft Carnival Venezia in 'life-saving' rescue 400 miles off US coast with helicopter repeatedly having to refuel on Atlantic mission

This is the tense moment a passenger was airlifted from a Carnival Cruise ship in a life-saving rescue nearly 400 miles off the US eastern coast. 

Dramatic images show how the US Air Fore rescue team lifted a passenger, who was in 'critical' condition, from the deck of the 1,000ft Carnival Venezia on May 4.

Two helicopters approached the ship to execute the extraction before the rescuers were hoisted down and immediately began preparing the cruise traveler. 

The unnamed patient and his mother were then hauled up into the helicopter, where he received treatment while en route to a hospital in the US. His current condition remains unknown.

The Carnival Venezia had set sail from New York on April 26 on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean. The rescue team underwent three helicopter air-to-air refuelings before it reached the vessel's remote location in the Atlantic Ocean.

Pararescuemen with the US Air Force's 920th Rescue Wing airlifted a 'critical' passenger and his mother from the 1,000ft Carnival Venezia on May 4

wo helicopters approached the ship to execute the extraction before the rescuers were hoisted down and immediately began preparing the cruise traveler

The unnamed patient and his mother were then hauled up into the helicopter, where he received treatment while en route to a hospital in the US

The Carnival Venezia (pictured) had set sail from New York on April 26 on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and Caribbean

The operation saw the 920th Rescue Wing dispatch a rescue force consisting of two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and two teams of combat rescue officers and pararescuemen to the cruiseliner.

'Everyone in the wing mobilized with exceptional speed,' Capt. Dylan Gann, 301st Rescue Squadron pilot, recalled of the mission. 

'By uniting our efforts, we saved crucial time, delivering life-saving assistance six hours ahead of other response teams.'

When the mission commander arrived on location, the two HC-130J search and rescue planes circled the airspace to assess the situation and assumed on-scene command.

The two HH-60s approached the ship, the pararescuemen were hoisted down and began preparing the passenger and his mother for the rescue. The pair were then lifted up into the helicopter.

Pararescuemen were hoisted down from the helicopter to aid the critical cruise passenger 

Pictured are members of the 920th Rescue Wing who successfully conducted a civilian medical airlift operation of a critical patient aboard the Carnival Venezia cruise ship

An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during a civilian medical airlift operation of a critical patient aboard a cruise ship more than 350 miles off the eastern coast of the US

Pararescuemen prepare to rescue a Carnival Venezia passenger who was in critical condition

Meanwhile, a team at the home station coordinated with flight doctors to find the right treatment facility for the patient.

The information was relayed to the rescue force who then made sure the patient was 'successfully transferred' to the hospital.

'This is what ready now looks like,' Lt. Col. John Lowe, 920th Operations Group commander, said.

'These real-world missions are what our countless hours of training have prepared us for. Rescue was able to plan and execute this mission without hesitation,

'This combined arms team is highly trained in their field while understanding what role they play in the bigger picture and led to the successful completion of the mission.' 

Capt. Gann added: 'Our collective determination and efficiency ensured the successful rescue and transport of the individual in need.'

An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during the rescue mission

Reaching the cruise ship Carnival Venezia's remote location required three helicopter air-to-air refuelings. Pictures is an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II during the May 4 rescue

Cruise passengers watched from the deck as the helicopter flew away from the Carnival Venezia, with the patient and his mother onboard, and headed to the hospital

An US Air Force spokesperson said: 'The patient was successfully transferred to a hospital in the United States. After 8 hours, and more than 1,200 miles flown, the mission was complete when all of the aircraft returned to Patrick SFB.'

A Carnival Cruise spokesperson told DailyMail.com that crew work with the Coast Guard and Air Force to 'adjust its course Saturday so a medical helicopter could rendezvous with the ship when a guest on board needed treatment ashore.'

'The ship then resumed its route to New York, arriving as scheduled Monday morning,' the spokesperson added.

The Carnival Venezia has since set sail on its next scheduled voyage, an 11-night eastern Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Half Moon Cay.

DailyMail.com has approached the 920th Rescue Wing for comment.