Two fishermen from California who had gone out for marlin fishing instead reeled in a cruise ship musician who is believed to have been in the water for around nine hours. It was late morning on Friday, November 6, when the fishermen said they were returning from their trip and thought they saw something in the water and went in to investigate.
The Coast Guard reports the good samaritans were about 10 miles northeast of Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island off the California coast, while the fishermen said it was more like 20 miles. The Newport Beach lifeguards, which responded to the calls for assistance, described it as “pretty much the middle of the ocean.”
The fishing boat came up to the area and discovered a man in the water. The two fishermen hoisted him out of the water onto their boat. They reported that the man said, “I thought I was going to die.” It is believed he went into the water around 0200 on Friday morning. It appears the ship was unaware that he had gone overboard.
The man was transferred to shore and given medical attention. He was taken to a hospital for a further medical check, but the reports said he was in good condition. The fishermen credited the warmer-than-normal waters of the Pacific due to the super El Niño with saving the man.
He identified himself as a pianist working aboard the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. Media reports say he is a 37-year-old male, although Royal Caribbean International declined to provide details. It confirmed he was a crewmember and said it was providing support but would not release details due to privacy concerns.
The 168,666-gross ton cruise ship was completing a four-day cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, and was due back in California on Friday morning. The ship accommodates up to 4,900 passengers and has 1,550 crewmembers.
It is unclear whether the individual had a lifejacket or a flotation device. The decks and railings of modern cruise ships are designed to prevent accidental incidents. While media reports highlight people “falling overboard,” the cases normally involve people jumping or doing other dangerous acts that cause them to fall. The Coast Guard said it would be investigating the circumstances of this incident.