A pianist employed aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is expected to survive after being spotted and pulled from the Pacific Ocean by two California fishermen nearly 20 miles offshore on Friday. The unidentified crew member had been treading water for roughly nine hours after going overboard from the 14-deck Ovation of the Seas before he was rescued around noon.
Fishermen Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, from Newport Beach, California, were returning from a morning marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island when they noticed a person floating in open water. Garrett recalled the moment the captain first saw the man in the water, prompting them to halt their vessel immediately. "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 duo worked quickly to pull the stranded man aboard. Once he regained his composure, the man identified himself as a pianist on the Royal Caribbean vessel. Norton shared that the survivor expressed overwhelming relief. "The only thing he said to me was, ‘Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,’" Norton recounted.
Following the rescue, the fishing crew broadcast an emergency maritime call, leading Newport Beach lifeguards to respond and provide assistance. Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda noted that the man was located approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore, describing the position as "pretty much in the middle of the ocean." The rescued crew member was subsequently transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
Norton noted that unseasonably warm ocean water likely prevented a tragic outcome despite the long ordeal. "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, adding, "A different year, no way he makes it."
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation to determine how the pianist fell from the cruise ship. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Group acknowledged the incident and confirmed it is assisting the employee following the ordeal.
