Pianist Survives Nine Hours in Pacific Ocean After Falling from Cruise Ship
Two fishermen pulled a Royal Caribbean crew member from the water near Catalina Island on Friday.
By Adriana Abebe ·
A crew member aboard the Royal Caribbean ship Ovation of the Seas survived after falling into the Pacific Ocean and treading water for approximately nine hours. The incident occurred on Friday, with the man located nearly 20 miles offshore from Newport Beach, California. US Coast Guard officials confirmed that the individual was transported to a hospital following the rescue and stated that an investigation into the cause of the fall has begun.
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, two local fishermen, discovered the stranded musician while returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island. The pair had been out on the water since the morning and reached the site by noon. Garrett noted that the captain initially spotted the figure in the water, prompting the crew to stop the boat and retrieve all fishing lines to bring the man aboard safely. Once the crew member regained his composure, he identified himself as a pianist working on the 14-deck vessel.
Norton described the rescued man as having very few words after being pulled from the water. He recalled the crew member saying, “Thank you. I thought I was gonna die.” The fishing team immediately issued an emergency maritime call, which alerted Newport Beach lifeguards to the situation. Battalion chief Adam Yacenda confirmed the location was between 15 and 20 miles from shore, describing the spot as being in the middle of the ocean.
Norton attributed the man’s survival to unusually warm water temperatures associated with a strong El Niño weather pattern. He observed that the ocean temperature was approximately 76 degrees Fahrenheit, a condition he said would likely have been fatal in a different year. “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. “A different year, no way he makes it.”
Royal Caribbean Group acknowledged the incident and stated that it is providing support to the employee. A company spokesperson told CBS that the line is assisting the crew member during this difficult time and is keeping additional details private to respect the individual’s privacy.
The Coast Guard continues to examine how the pianist went overboard from the Ovation of the Seas. No further details regarding the specific circumstances of the fall have been released as the investigation proceeds.
