Woman Survives 20 Hours at Sea After Going Overboard From Royal Caribbean Cruise
A woman who went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship near Greece spent about 20 hours in the sea before crews found her alive. The 44-year-old was floating inside a life ring when she was spotted in the dark early Saturday morning.
The Hellenic Coast Guard said in an October 11 statement that the woman went into the water on October 9, about 72 nautical miles southwest of the Greek island of Zakynthos. She is from El Salvador and was a passenger aboard Odyssey of the Seas.
A Coast Guard rescue boat, a patrol boat and a Greek Air Force Super Puma helicopter joined the search, along with other ships in the area. Odyssey of the Seas also turned around to help look for its missing passenger.
The crew of a cargo ship called MSC Rossella III finally located the woman early on October 10. She was still conscious when a Greek Coast Guard boat arrived to bring her out of the water.
Coast Guard Releases Video of the Rescue
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The Coast Guard posted a video showing the woman floating in an orange life ring as a rescue boat approached her in the dark. Crew members threw her a rope and pulled her toward the boat.
Earlier in the search, crews had found a light that had become separated from a life ring. They still hadn’t located the woman, who was eventually spotted by the cargo ship the following morning.
After getting her aboard the rescue boat, Coast Guard personnel gave her first aid. They brought her to the port of Katakolo, where an ambulance took her to the General Hospital of Pyrgos for observation and medical tests.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Misses Its Stop in Naples
Odyssey of the Seas was on a seven-night cruise that departed Civitavecchia, Italy, on October 4. The ship had been heading from Mykonos, Greece, to Naples, Italy, when the passenger went overboard.
One person aboard the ship posted on Reddit that the captain informed passengers about the missing woman around 10 a.m. on Friday. The ship spent hours circling the area while the search continued. The passenger later updated the post, writing, “Naples is cancelled. Day at sea tomorrow.”
Several passengers were disappointed about missing Naples, where some had planned visits to Pompeii. Others shared their relief after the captain announced the following morning that the woman had been found alive.
What Did the Woman Tell Rescuers?
A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson told AFP that the woman said she jumped from the ship because she “wanted to disembark.” The Coast Guard’s written statement doesn’t explain why she went overboard.
Royal Caribbean Group also confirmed that it had launched a search and rescue operation after the woman disappeared. The company said its Care Team was helping the passenger’s loved ones and declined to share additional information about her or her family. The Katakolo Port Authority is investigating what happened.
