A passenger who suffered a medical event aboard a cruise ship leaving Auckland has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.
A St John spokesperson said the service was alerted to the incident on board the ship at about 3.50am.
One person was assessed and taken to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition, the spokesperson added.
The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was the lead agency for the operation.
A spokesperson said the person was young, adding the cruise ship was leaving Auckland at the time.
The ship was identified as P&O's Pacific Explorer. The RCC said it was "appropriate" to turn it back towards Auckland.
The patient was safely evacuated once the ship reached land.
The Police Maritime Unit assisted with getting the person off the shop and to hospital, the spokesperson said.
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