Medical Emergency on AIDAperla: Successful Patient Evacuation on Elbe River near Stade

AIDAperla
On Saturday evening, May 17, 2025, a coordinated rescue operation took place on the Elbe River in the Stade area. Fire department and German Life Saving Association (DLRG) units were alerted to evacuate a passenger from the cruise ship AIDAperla. The vessel had departed the port of Hamburg for Norway approximately one and a half hours earlier when the medical necessity of disembarking a passenger became apparent. Two rescue boats subsequently set course for the AIDAperla.

All news also on X formerly Twitter

For the transfer of the patient to the rescue services, the AIDAperla's crew opened a side hatch, which was approached by one of the emergency boats. While the cruise ship slowed its speed on the Elbe, the patient was safely handed over to the responders. The DLRG's motor rescue boat "Kiek Ut" and the fire department's boat "Henry Köpcke" were involved in this operation. An emergency doctor and a paramedic crew provided medical care to the patient during transport to the mainland.

The landing point for the rescue boats was Stadersand. From there, the patient was immediately transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The cooperation between the AIDAperla crew and the fire department and DLRG emergency services was seamless and focused on the patient's well-being. The AIDAperla was able to continue its journey down the Elbe with only minimal delay.

Today, Sunday, May 18, 2025, the cruise ship is on a scheduled sea day on its route to Norway. The week-long cruise, which began on May 17 and will last until May 24, 2025, includes calls at the Norwegian ports of Bergen, Åndalsnes, Ålesund, and Måløy.