A Royal Caribbean cruise ship pianist has been rescued after spending nearly nine hours struggling to stay afloat in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 20 miles off the California coast.
The unidentified crew member was discovered by two fishermen who were searching for marlin near Catalina Island.
He was reportedly in critical condition when they pulled him from the water.
Fishermen Spot Man Struggling in the Ocean
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were aboard their fishing boat around midday when they noticed what appeared to be a person floating in the water.
Realising someone was in distress, the two men immediately stopped their fishing activities and began retrieving their lines before approaching the individual.
Garrett told CBS that he initially confirmed what they were seeing was a human being and urged that the boat be stopped so they could attempt a rescue.
The fishermen managed to reach the man and pull him aboard, with both men lifting him out of the water by his arms.
Norton said the rescued man was in a state of shock after spending several hours stranded at sea.
Pianist Reveals He Works Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
After being brought aboard the fishing boat, the man eventually regained enough composure to speak with his rescuers.
He disclosed that he worked as a pianist on Royal Caribbean’s 14-deck Ovation of the Seas cruise ship.
According to Norton, the man’s only words to him were an expression of gratitude and fear.
“He was in total shock,” Norton recalled, adding that the man told him: “Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.”
Lifeguards Respond After Emergency Maritime Call
Following the rescue, an emergency maritime call brought Newport Beach lifeguards to the scene.
Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda told CBS that the man was discovered approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore.
Authorities estimated that he had gone overboard around nine hours before the fishermen found him.
The pianist was subsequently transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
The US Coast Guard confirmed that he was expected to survive and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Warm Ocean Temperatures May Have Helped Him Survive
Norton suggested that unusually warm water temperatures could have contributed to the man’s survival after spending such a prolonged period in the ocean.
He attributed the conditions to an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern, noting that the water temperature was approximately 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
“You have this crazy super El Niño year.
This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water’s 76 degrees,” Norton said.
He added that the outcome might have been different if the incident had happened during a year when ocean temperatures were considerably lower.
Pianist Reportedly Fell Overboard Hours Before Ship’s Arrival
The Ovation of the Seas had been scheduled to return to Los Angeles at approximately 7am Pacific time on November 6.
Newport Beach lifeguards estimated that the pianist went overboard at around 2.30am, several hours before the vessel was due to arrive.
Royal Caribbean generally initiates search operations and diverts its vessels when a passenger or crew member is reported to have fallen overboard.
However, passengers aboard the Ovation of the Seas reportedly claimed that they did not notice any alerts being issued following the incident, according to TheTravel.com.
Royal Caribbean Responds to Crew Member’s Rescue
Authorities have not released the pianist’s identity or established the circumstances that led to his fall into the Pacific Ocean.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson confirmed that the company was supporting the rescued employee but declined to provide further information, citing privacy concerns.
“We are providing support and assistance to our crew member during this difficult time.
To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share,” the spokesperson said.
The US Coast Guard investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
