A pianist working aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has survived a terrifying ordeal after reportedly spending nine hours stranded in the Pacific Ocean.
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Authorities believe the unidentified 37-year-old man fell overboard from the vessel before two Southern California fishermen discovered him on Friday.
The fishermen, who were returning from a fishing trip, spotted the man struggling in the water and quickly launched a rescue effort.
Cruise Ship Overboard Incident Sparks Dramatic Rescue
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, both from Newport Beach, were fishing near Catalina Island when their boat's captain spotted someone in the water around midday, nearly 20 miles offshore.
"I'm like, 'Yeah, it's a human being. Stop the boat; let's get all of our lines in," Garrett recalled.
The crew immediately stopped the boat and worked together to pull the stranded man to safety.
"Grant and I each got an arm and lifted him up," Norton said. "He was in total shock."
Once aboard, the man explained that he worked as a pianist on Royal Caribbean's 14-deck cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas.
The vessel had been traveling from Long Beach, California, to Ensenada, Mexico, when the incident reportedly occurred.
Following the rescue, Norton and his crew issued an emergency maritime call, prompting Newport Beach lifeguards to respond.
Coast Guard Investigates How Cruise Ship Pianist Fell Overboard
Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda said authorities believe the man may have fallen overboard at approximately 2:30 a.m.
Investigators estimate that he spent around nine hours in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 15 to 20 miles offshore, before the fishermen discovered him.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the man required hospitalization following the ordeal but expects him to survive.
Authorities have also launched an investigation to determine exactly how he went overboard.
Norton suggested that unusually warm ocean temperatures may have played a crucial role in the man's survival.
"You have this crazy super El Nino year. This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water's 76 degrees," Norton continued to say. "A different year, no way he makes it."
Royal Caribbean Group also addressed the incident in a statement, confirming that the company was supporting its employee.
"We are providing support and assistance to our crew member during this difficult time," the statement read. "To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share."
