Cruiseschip Pianist Rescued
A cruise ship pianist was rescued nearly 30 kilometers off the California coast after floating in the Pacific Ocean for roughly nine hours.
The 37-year-old crew member went overboard during the night from the 14-deck cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, nos.nl reported. Two local fishermen spotted the man in the water and brought him aboard their vessel before the U.S. Coast Guard transported him to a hospital.
Rescue by Fishermen Near Newport Beach
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were heading home after fishing for marlin near Catalina Island when they noticed something in the water, according to Nieuwsblad. Garrett recalled telling his partner to stop the boat and pull in their lines because he realized the object was a human being.
The fishermen pulled the exhausted man onto their boat around midday. Once he regained his breath, the survivor explained that he worked as a pianist on the Royal Caribbean vessel traveling from Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico.
Thank you. I thought I was going to die,
the pianist told Norton, as reported by CBS News.
The El Nino Warm Water Factor
Norton attributed the successful survival outcome partly to unseasonably warm ocean temperatures driven by the El Niño weather pattern. The ocean water temperature reached 24 degrees Celsius, or 76 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Nieuwsblad.
In another year he never would have made it,
Norton told CBS News, noting that the extreme weather phenomenon kept the water warm enough for the man to endure hours of treading water.
Royal Caribbean responds as Coast Guard investigates
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident to CBS News, stating that the company is providing support and assistance to the crew member during this difficult period. The company declined to share further details out of respect for the employee’s privacy.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities have not yet released the name of the rescued pianist.
Questions about the pianist falling overboard
How did the pianist fall overboard?
The exact circumstances surrounding how the man fell from the 14-deck ship remain unknown. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the fall.
What cruise ship was involved in the incident?
The man was working aboard the Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship traveling from Long Beach, California, to Ensenada, Mexico.
Who rescued the crew member from the ocean?
Two fishermen from Newport Beach, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, spotted the man while returning from a fishing trip and pulled him onto their boat.
How long was the man in the water?
Authorities estimate that the pianist spent approximately nine hours in the Pacific Ocean before being pulled to safety around midday.