Fishermen pull cruise ship pianist from Pacific after hours at sea
Two fishermen off the California coast pulled a Royal Caribbean crew member from the ocean after he had been in the water for hours. The US Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard.
On Friday, November 6, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were heading back from a morning fishing trip near Catalina Island when their boat captain noticed a person in the water. The two men stopped fishing, moved toward him and helped haul him onto their boat.
The man told the fishermen he was a pianist on Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas. Lifeguards from Newport Beach were called to the scene after the fishing crew issued an emergency maritime call. Authorities believe he may have been in the water for around nine hours, and he was found between 15 and 20 miles offshore.
The fishermen suggested that warm water, about 24 degrees Celsius, may have helped him survive. He was taken to hospital. A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said the company is supporting the crew member and has no further details to share. The US Coast Guard is investigating how he fell overboard.