Fishermen rescue Royal Caribbean pianist after nine hours adrift off California
A 37-year-old pianist employed aboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending roughly nine hours treading water in the Pacific Ocean about 15 to 20 miles off the Southern California coast near Catalina Island. Two Newport Beach fishermen, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, spotted him around midday Friday while returning from a marlin fishing trip and pulled him aboard. He was hospitalized in stable condition and is expected to survive. The US Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard, believed to have occurred around 2:30 a.m. Royal Caribbean said it is supporting the crew member.
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Pianist rescued after nine hours overboard in Pacific Ocean
A 37-year-old pianist working aboard the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending about nine hours in the Pacific Ocean more than 30 kilometers off the California coast. According to US media reports, the man went overboard around 2:30 a.m., though how he fell remains unclear. Two sport fishermen, Grant Garrett and Sean Norton, spotted him near Santa Catalina Island on Friday while returning from a fishing trip. They pulled him aboard; he was in shock and said, "Thank you. I thought I was going to die." The US Coast Guard is investigating, and the man was taken to a hospital and is not in life-threatening condition. One fisherman suggested the unusually warm Pacific waters due to El Niño may have helped him survive.
Read sourceCruise Ship Pianist Rescued After Nine Hours Treading Water in Pacific Ocean
A pianist employed on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending roughly nine hours treading water about 20 miles (32km) off the Californian coast near Catalina Island. Two fishermen, Grant Garrett and Sean Norton, spotted the man on Friday and pulled him aboard; he was taken to hospital in a stable condition, the US Coast Guard told the BBC, which added it was investigating the incident. Lifeguard officials believe he may have fallen overboard around 02:30. The man, not yet publicly identified, told rescuers he was a pianist on the 14-deck vessel and said, "Thank you. I thought I was gonna die." Norton credited the man's survival to unusually warm ocean temperatures of about 76F (24C) amid a strong El Niño year, saying "A different year, no way he makes it." Royal Caribbean said it is providing support to the crew member and declined to share further details to protect his privacy.
Read sourceCruise ship pianist rescued after nine hours in Pacific Ocean
A pianist employed on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was rescued after falling overboard and treading water roughly 20 miles (32km) off the Californian coast near Catalina Island. Two US fishermen, Grant Garrett and Sean Norton, spotted the man on Friday and pulled him from the water; he was taken to hospital in a stable condition, the US Coast Guard told the BBC, which said it was investigating. Lifeguard officials believe he may have fallen overboard around 02:30, about nine hours before he was found. The man, not yet publicly identified, told rescuers he was a pianist on the 14-deck ship and said, "Thank you. I thought I was gonna die." Norton credited the man's survival to unusually warm ocean temperatures of about 24C amid a strong El Niño. Royal Caribbean said it is providing support to the crew member and declined further details to protect his privacy.
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Fishermen Rescue Royal Caribbean Pianist Treading Water 20 Miles Off California Coast
Two Newport Beach fishermen, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, rescued a Royal Caribbean crew member found treading water roughly 20 miles off the Southern California coast while they were returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island on Friday. The man, who has not been publicly identified, told rescuers he was a pianist aboard the 14-deck cruise ship Ovation of the Seas and said, 'Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.' Newport Beach lifeguards responded to an emergency maritime call, and officials believe he went overboard around 2:30 a.m., roughly nine hours before being found. He was hospitalized and is expected to survive. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard. A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said the company is providing support and assistance to the crew member and declined to share additional details to protect his privacy. Norton credited unusually warm 76-degree water for the man's survival.
Read sourceRoyal Caribbean Pianist Rescued After Nine Hours Treading Water Off California
A pianist working aboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas was rescued on Friday after spending roughly nine hours treading water in the Pacific Ocean about 15 to 20 miles (32km) off the California coast. Newport Beach fishermen Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island, spotted the man around noon and pulled him aboard; he was taken to hospital and is expected to survive. The unidentified crew member told rescuers, 'Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.' Norton credited unusually warm ocean temperatures, around 76 degrees amid what he called a 'crazy super El Niño year,' for the man's survival. The US Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard, and Royal Caribbean said it is providing support to the employee while declining further comment to protect his privacy.
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