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Fishermen Rescue Cruise Ship Pianist Adrift at Sea
8 Nov
Summary
- Two fishermen rescued a cruise ship employee treading water offshore.
- The man had been in the ocean for approximately nine hours.
- Warmer ocean temperatures likely aided the survivor's chances.
Two fishermen, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, discovered a Royal Caribbean cruise ship employee treading water nearly 20 miles off the coast near Catalina Island. The discovery occurred on Friday morning as they were returning from a fishing trip. The rescued man, who has not been identified, was a pianist aboard the cruise ship "Ovation of the Seas."
Norton and Garrett pulled the man from the water, noting his shock. He expressed his gratitude, stating he believed he was going to die. An emergency maritime call was placed, and Newport Beach lifeguards responded. Officials estimate the man may have gone overboard approximately nine hours before his rescue.
The man was hospitalized and is expected to survive. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances surrounding how he went overboard. Experts noted that the unusually warm ocean temperatures for the season likely played a significant role in his survival after being in the water for an extended period.
