JEDDAH: Coast Guard specialists have successfully saved the life of an American tourist who suffered from a heart-attack while on board on a ship traveling through the Suez Canal toward Salalah Port in Oman when she suddenly became very ill.

Colonel Naji Al-Juhani, spokesperson of the Coast Guard Force in the Makkah region said that their call center received a message from the captain of the cruise ship stating that there was a 72-year-old American tourist on board suffering who needed to be urgently transported to the nearest hospital following a heart attack.

He noted that immediate coordination was secured with the Jeddah Islamic Port to resolve the issue. A plane was prepared to undertake the rescue operation, which successfully transported the tourist to shore for treatment.