Survived 9 Hours in the Middle of the Pacific... Pianist Who Fell Overboard from Cruise Ship Dramatically Rescued
Found about 32 km off the California coast
Rescued by fishermen... Pianist: "I thought I was going to die"
A pianist working aboard a U.S. cruise ship fell into the sea and drifted in the Pacific for about nine hours before being rescued by fishermen returning from a fishing trip.
According to the New York Post and other outlets on Nov. 8, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, who live in Newport Beach, California, spotted a man floating in the sea around noon on Nov. 6 as they were returning from a fishing trip near Catalina Island. The man was found about 20 miles (approximately 32 km) off the California coast.
After regaining consciousness, the rescued man reportedly said he was a pianist working aboard Royal Caribbean's cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. The ship has 14 decks. The pianist reportedly thanked Norton, who had rescued him, saying, "Thank you," and, "I thought I was going to die."
The fishermen pulled the man aboard and sent a distress call at sea. Newport Beach lifeguards then responded to the scene and assisted with the rescue. Fire Chief Adam Yacenda described the situation, saying, "It was about 15 to 20 miles off the coast, literally in the middle of the ocean."
Authorities believe the man fell from the cruise ship about nine hours before he was found. The exact circumstances of the fall have not been disclosed. A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said, "We are providing the support and assistance our crew member needs during this difficult time," adding, "Out of respect for the crew member's privacy, we cannot provide further details."
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Meanwhile, in September, a passenger fell overboard from a cruise ship bound for the United States and went missing. Thomas Gigler, 56, was reportedly aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Panorama with his wife, Michelle, as it sailed from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach, California, when he fell into the sea. Gigler, who lived in Redlands and had three sons, was reportedly on the trip to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife. He was presumed dead after going missing.
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