Cruise Employee Rescued Off California
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship pianist is expected to survive after two fishermen discovered him treading water nearly 20 miles off the California coast on Friday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The unidentified crew member spent roughly nine hours in the Pacific Ocean before Sean Norton and Grant Garrett spotted him around noon, The Guardian reported. The pair had been returning from a morning marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island.
Fishermen Spot Man in Pacific
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s a human being. Stop the boat; let’s get all of our lines in,'” Grant Garrett told CBS News, describing the moment the boat’s captain first sighted the swimmer.
Norton and Garrett hoisted the exhausted man aboard. Once he caught his breath, the crew member revealed he worked on the Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck Royal Caribbean vessel, according to CBS News.
“The only thing he said to me was, ‘Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,'” Norton told CBS News, adding that the survivor was in total shock.
Coast Guard Investigates Overboard Fall
The fishing crew placed an emergency maritime call immediately after the rescue. Newport Beach lifeguards responded to assist the injured worker near the 15-to-20-mile mark offshore, which Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda described as “pretty much in the middle of the ocean,” according to CBS News.
Medical personnel transported the pianist to a hospital. Coast Guard officials stated he is expected to survive the ordeal, while investigators work to determine how he went overboard from the cruise liner.
Royal Caribbean Group acknowledged the incident in a statement to CBS LA, noting, “We are providing support and assistance to our crew member during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share.”
Warm El Niño Waters Aid Survival
Norton credited unusual seasonal weather patterns for keeping the crew member alive through the extended immersion.
“You have this crazy super El Niño year. This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water’s 76 degrees,” Norton told CBS News. “A different year, no way he makes it.”
The Coast Guard confirmed to The Independent that a conscious individual was pulled from the water, though the man’s current medical condition remains unclear.
Questions About the Pianist's Rescue and Fall
How long was the cruise employee in the water?
Local authorities believe the pianist spent approximately nine to ten hours treading water in the Pacific Ocean before his rescue.
What ship did the rescued crew member work on?
The man identified himself as a pianist assigned to the Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck ship operated by Royal Caribbean.
What caused the crew member to fall overboard?
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the exact circumstances surrounding how the employee fell from the cruise vessel.
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