A 60-year-old captain of a cargo ship anchored in New York Harbor was airlifted by an NYPD helicopter Tuesday night after he suffered a heart attack on board.
Police said they got a call at about 9:45 p.m. from the Grey Shark, a 330-foot Panamanian cargo ship, reporting that Capt. Aly Akl was in cardiac arrest.
NYPD Harbor and medic officers went on board to treat Akl, and after stabilizing him, decided the safest and quickest way to get him to the hospital was by airlift, the NYPD said.
An NYPD helicopter then lowered a rescue basket to the ship, and Akl was placed into it and hoisted into the aircraft.
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Medic Detective Robert Brager was also raised into the helicopter to monitor Akl while on the way to the hospital.
Akl was taken to Staten Island University North Hospital, where he was in stable condition, the NYPD said.
