The ferry that has been trapped in ice for two days near the mouth of the Sydney, N.S. harbour has been freed by an icebreaker, its nearly 200 passengers back on solid ground after two days at sea.
The Louis S. St. Laurent, an icebreaker on leave from its duties in Quebec City, helped the MV Caribou break free around 10:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. It had been carrying 170 passengers from Newfoundland when it got stuck in pack ice on Tuesday.
Although one passenger suffered an anxiety attack and was airlifted to Cape Breton Regional Hospital, the majority of people stuck on board made the best of their time in the 250-foot-long vessel -- which is equipped with a cafeteria, private and dormitory-style sleeping quarters, TVs and seating areas.
"From everything I hear they were a great bunch of people and there was a good mood on the vessel," Tara Laing, a spokesperson for ferry operator Marine Atlantic, told CTV.ca on Thursday morning.
Laing said the icebreaker would be used to help the next two departing ferries get out of port. She said wind and ice conditions would determine if it would be required after that.
Early this morning, a 28-year-old man complaining of chest pains was airlifted off the ship by a Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopter. Laing said the airlift took place at 12:30 a.m.
The passenger was initially thought to be going into cardiac arrest but it was soon determined he was suffering an anxiety attack, a military spokesperson told the Canadian Press.
"It was reported that the patient was having chest pain so RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre), in consultation with a doctor, decided it was best to get him out of there," Lt.-Col. Gilbert Thibault, commanding officer of 413 Squadron at CFB Greenwood, N.S., told CP.
"We flew there as fast as we could above the clouds and did a radar approach to the vessel," said Thibault, referring to forecasts of freezing rain.
About an hour after a search and rescue official boarded the vessel, the patient was on his way to the Sydney airport, where an ambulance was waiting.
According to hospital public affairs director Greg Boone, the man is in "good condition."
With files from the Canadian Press
