U.S. Navy Boards the Dawn Princess To Rescue Girl With Ruptured Appendix

Baja, CA (AHN) - A U.S. Navy crew came to the aid of a teenage girl suffering from a ruptured appendix while at sea aboard a cruise ship over the weekend. The girl was lifted onto a helicopter and transported the nearest hospital facility... a nuclear aircraft carrier.

The girl, 14-year old Laura Montero, became ill Friday while aboard the Dawn Princess, a cruise ship located off the coast of Baja, California. The ship sent out a distress call, which was received by the USS Ronald Reagan, 500 miles away.

The nuclear carrier took off to the location of the cruise ship overnight, and a helicopter headed for the final stretch of the journey at 5 a.m. Saturday. Upon reaching the ship 45 minutes later, a medic was lowered and put Montero on a basket, before pulling her aboard. The helicopter then headed back to the USS Reagan to give Montero an appendectomy...