Fishermen rescue cruise ship pianist after about nine hours in the Pacific
Two Newport Beach fishermen found a Royal Caribbean pianist treading water 15 to 20 miles off California on Friday. He may have been in the water about nine hours. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard from the Ovation of the Seas, and he is expected to survive.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →The rescue
CBS News reported that Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island when their boat’s captain spotted a man in the water around noon on Friday. Newport Beach Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda said it was about 15 to 20 miles offshore, “pretty much in the middle of the ocean.” Norton said they each took an arm and lifted him aboard, and that he was “in total shock.”
Garrett said the man identified himself as a pianist on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. According to Norton, he said, “Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.”
How long he was in the water
Authorities believe he may have gone overboard about nine hours earlier, CBS News reported. Norton said he was in the water for “probably 10 hours” and credited unusually warm water, about 76 degrees. The Guardian reported that the man has not been identified and was taken to hospital, and that the Coast Guard is investigating how he fell from the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s statement
A company spokesperson told CBS LA: “We are providing support and assistance to our crew member during this difficult time.” The spokesperson said the company had no additional details to share, to respect his privacy.
Why this matters
The Coast Guard has not said how the man went overboard, and the company has not shared details.