A pianist aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending nearly nine hours treading water in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 20 miles off the coast of Newport Beach, California. The man was found by fishermen Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, who were returning from a marlin‑fishing trip near Catalina Island.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the fishermen spotted the man around noon and immediately pulled him aboard their vessel. The pianist, who identified himself as a crew member of the cruise ship, expressed gratitude to the rescuers, saying, “Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.”
After the rescue, the fishing crew issued an emergency maritime call, prompting Newport Beach lifeguards to respond. Battalion chief Adam Yacenda confirmed the man was found “pretty much in the middle of the ocean,” about 15 to 20 miles offshore.
Despite the extended time in the water, the pianist survived, likely aided by unusually warm ocean temperatures. Norton noted the water was 76 degrees Fahrenheit, a factor that may have contributed to the man’s survival during a “crazy super El Niño year.”
The circumstances of how the pianist fell overboard remain under investigation by the Coast Guard. Royal Caribbean Group has acknowledged the incident and stated it is providing support and assistance to the crew member during this difficult time, while respecting the employee’s privacy.
Source: The Guardian World
Read the original article
Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
