A cruise ship pianist’s life was saved by two fishermen after he was found treading water in the Pacific Ocean, authorities said.
The unidentified man was discovered nearly 20 miles off the coast of California near Catalina Island and is expected to survive.
The Royal Caribbean crew member was found conscious and in the water by Sean Norton and Grant Garrett on Friday. The pair were returning from a fishing trip when they spotted the man. Once rescued, the man was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The rescue unfolded when the boat’s captain spotted a figure in the water. His immediate reaction was to stop the vessel and prepare for recovery.
I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s a human being. Stop the boat; let’s get all of our lines in,’
Garrett told CBS News, recalling the critical moment. The fishermen quickly worked together to pull the stranded man onto their boat.
Once onboard, the rescued man regained his composure and identified himself as a pianist on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Ovation of the Seas. His relief was palpable, Norton said, recounting the man’s simple but powerful words.
The only thing he said to me was, ‘Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,’
Norton said.
Officials believe the man may have been in the ocean for approximately nine hours. Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda of Newport Beach Lifeguards, who responded to the emergency call, confirmed the man was found pretty much in the middle of the ocean,
approximately 15 to 20 miles from shore.
One key factor that may have contributed to the man’s survival was the unusually warm ocean temperature. Norton speculated that the crazy super El Niño year
and water temperatures around 76 degrees Fahrenheit played a significant role.
You have this crazy super El Niño year. This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water’s 76 degrees. A different year, no way he makes it,
Norton said, highlighting the role of weather conditions in the ordeal.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances surrounding how the crew member fell from the cruise ship. In a statement, the Coast Guard confirmed it received a report from a Good Samaritan who recovered a conscious individual from the water.
The rescued man was subsequently handed over to Newport Beach Lifeguards, who verified his employment on the Ovation of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean Group has acknowledged the incident and stated it is providing support to the employee. 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,
a company spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.
The Coast Guard’s investigation into the overboard incident is ongoing.
The swift actions of Norton and Garrett were instrumental in saving a life. The full details of the incident remain under official review.
