Fishermen rescue cruise ship pianist after nine hours in Pacific

Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island when they spotted a figure treading water in the Pacific Ocean on Friday. The two men were operating a vessel off the coast of Newport Beach, California, at approximately noon when they identified the swimmer.

Norton described the moment the boat’s captain first saw the man. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s a human being. Stop the boat; let’s get all of our lines in,’” Garrett told CBS News. The fishermen maneuvered their boat close to the water and worked together to pull the stranded individual onto the deck.

Once the man regained his composure, he identified himself as a pianist working for Royal Caribbean. His vessel, the Ovation of the Seas, is a 14-deck cruise ship. Norton noted that the crew member had very few words to describe the ordeal. “The only thing he said to me was, ‘Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,’” Norton said.

Authorities estimate the man spent nearly nine hours in the ocean before the rescue. Battalion chief Adam Yacenda of Newport Beach lifeguards stated the man was found between 15 and 20 miles offshore. Yacenda described the location as being pretty much in the middle of the ocean.

Norton attributed the man’s survival to unusually warm water conditions caused by a strong El Niño 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. He added that in a different year, the man likely would not have survived.

The US Coast Guard is investigating how the pianist fell overboard from the cruise ship. The man was transported to a hospital following the rescue. Royal Caribbean Group acknowledged the incident and said it is assisting the employee. A company spokesperson said, “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 fishing crew issued an emergency maritime call after pulling the man from the water. Newport Beach lifeguards responded to the scene to provide assistance. The Coast Guard continues its inquiry into the circumstances of the fall.