A cruise ship passenger who sufferred a suspected stroke was evactuated to Bermuda in the early hours of Monday morning.

The 72-year-old man onboard the Seven Seas Explorer was picked up by pilot boat and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

A Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre spokesman said: “On Saturday afternoon, cruise ship Seven Seas Explorer, then 600 miles east of the island, contacted RCC Bermuda reporting that they were making best speed to Bermuda to disembark a passenger who had suffered a suspected stroke.

“The vessel, en route from Horta, Azores, to Bermuda and then Miami, was due into Bermuda for daylight arrival but decided to disembark patient a few hours earlier given his condition.

“RCC Bermuda continued to monitor patient status and vessel approach with the patient successfully disembarked via pilot boat St David and taken via ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.”

Seven Seas Explorer is alongside at Heritage Wharf in Dockyard and is scheduled to leave Bermuda tomorrow afternoon.