Dizzying Sea Rescue: Man Lowered From Cargo Ship

MIAMI, FL — A worker who experienced a medical emergency at sea Monday afternoon was lowered down the side of a cargo ship in a dizzying rescue. First responders from Miami-Dade Fireboat 73 met the ship about six miles off the Florida coast. The same fireboat conducted another daring rescue involving a passenger on a Carnival cruise ship over the weekend.

Monday's rescue took place shortly after 2 p.m., according to Erika Benitez of Miami-Dade Fire Recuse.

"The patient was on a cargo ship," Benitez said. "Once MDFR fireboat located the cargo ship, MDFR crews began a hoist operation in order to safely transport the patient onto the fireboat for transport."

See also: FREE Glass Of Wine When You Sign Up For Patch's FREE Newsletter

Benitez said that crew members secured the patient in a basket.

"Once the patient was secured onto a basket, the crew began the careful descent of the patient who was in need of immediate medical attention," Benitez explained. "Once on board the fireboat, the patient was assessed and transported to Port Miami where a rescue unit was waiting to transport to a nearby hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment."

She said that first responders faced difficult conditions.

"Today’s rescue was challenging due to weather and rough seas," Benitez said.

Miami-Dade first responders from Fireboat 73 also braved rough waters Saturday to carry out a dramatic rescue at sea aboard the Carnival cruise ship "Glory." The U.S. Coast Guard reported that an adult passenger suffered a medical emergency and needed to get to a hospital. The ship departed Port of Miami earlier in the day.

Watch Monday's rescue below:

Image and video courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue