New air ambulance service launched for the Bahamas
Tropic Air Rescue will utilize a subscription model, and will fly S-76B helicopters
Tropic Air Rescue has announced the official launch of its first private air ambulance service, between the Bahamas and the US state of Florida.
Operating via a subscription membership model, the service will fly use Sikorsky S-76B helicopters to assist patients located in the Caribbean island nation.
Tropic Air Rescue stated that using rotorcraft offers a more rapid response time than traditional, fixed-wing options.
“Before we launched, many patients had to wait more than a full day for help to arrive,” said founder and President Anthony Marinello. “We’re changing that. Our mission is to make lifesaving care accessible within the golden hour, no matter how remote the location.”
The company stated that it aims to respond to demand from “boaters, yacht owners, and second-home residents” for fast but reliable medical transfers, especially when considering factors such as “tourism, weather events, and high-net-worth travel”.
Tropic Air Rescue confirmed that it had already conducted 35 successful rescues, including “nighttime trauma lifts from private islands, yachts, and cruise ships”.
Marinello recently spoke to AirMed&Rescue, in our June 2025 issue.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.