A cruise ship pianist was rescued from the Pacific Ocean after being in the water for approximately nine hours, according to US media reports. Two fishermen discovered the man treading water about 20 miles (32km) off the Californian coast near Catalina Island on Friday.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to a hospital in stable condition, the US Coast Guard told the BBC. The Coast Guard stated it is currently investigating the incident and received a report from "a Good Samaritan who recovered a conscious individual from the water."
The fishermen reported that the man identified himself as a pianist on the 14-deck cruise ship called the Ovation of the Seas. Sean Norton, one of the fishermen, recalled the moment he and Grant Garrett spotted the man, saying, "I'm like, 'Yeah, it's a human being. Stop the boat; let's get all of our lines in." Norton noted that the only thing the man said to him was, "Thank you. I thought I was gonna die."
Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda told CBS that the man was handed over to lifeguards, who confirmed his employment on the Ovation of the Seas. Officials believe the man may have fallen overboard at around 02:30, roughly nine hours before his discovery. Yacenda described the location as being approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore, "pretty much in the middle of the ocean."
Norton attributed the man's survival to the unusually warm ocean temperatures caused by a "crazy super El Niño year." He stated that while the man was in the water for probably 10 hours, the water was 76 degrees (about 24C), adding, "A different year, no way he makes it." Scientists monitoring the Pacific report that the current El Niño phenomenon is the strongest on record, with ocean temperatures about 3.05C above average.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told the BBC that the company is providing support and assistance to the crew member during this difficult time, but stated they have no additional details to share to respect the employee's privacy.
