A cruise passenger was rescued nearly 20 hours after boarding a Royal Caribbean ship into the Ionian Sea near the island of Zakynthos, Greece.
According to To a press release By the Greek Coast Guard, the accident occurred on the morning of October 9 on board the cruise ship while it was sailing southwest of Zakynthos.
“The local emergency plan was immediately activated” and searches began to locate the 44-year-old Salvadoran woman, with the participation of the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Hellenic Coast Guard Patrol Vessel (HCV) and passing vessels, as well as a Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter, according to the press release.
A cargo ship involved in the search found the woman on October 10, finding her conscious while floating inside a life buoy, according to the Coast Guard.
Screenshots Shared by the Greek Coast Guard It shows the moment the woman was found floating on the water.
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The ship’s crew members discovered the woman floating inside a life buoy in the dark sea before throwing her a rope.
The footage shows the woman pulling herself towards the cargo ship after grabbing the rope.
The woman was transported by ambulance to the hospital for medical observation and examinations, according to the Coast Guard.
The Katakulu Port Authority is conducting a preliminary investigation.
Royal Caribbean Group spokesman He told USA Today She added that the ship “immediately began search and rescue efforts and is working with the authorities” after the woman drowned at sea.
The spokesperson added: “Our care team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time. To protect the privacy of the guest and their family, we do not have additional details to share.”
Global News reached out to Royal Caribbean Group for further comment, but did not receive a response.
The rescue comes nearly a month after a passenger boarded the sea from a cruise ship bound for Southern California from Mexico.
The accident occurred aboard the Carnival Panorama ship, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, while the ship was headed from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach, California, a Carnival Cruise spokesman said. NBC News and ABC News.
“Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that a guest on board Carnival Panorama jumped overboard while the ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach, California,” a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said in a statement to the media.
“When the missing guest was notified, the ship’s team began search and investigative procedures, including reviewing surveillance footage and notifying both the U.S. and Mexican Coast Guard. Carnival is providing support to the family who was traveling with the guest, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” the spokesperson added.
The passenger, a 56-year-old man, was on the seven-night cruise that sailed to several coastal communities in Mexico before returning to Southern California.
In a statement to Global News, the US Coast Guard said it was “looking for a 56-year-old man reported aboard the Carnival Panorama cruise ship off the coast of Mexico.”
The US Coast Guard spokesman added that the reason for the passenger’s descent into the sea is under investigation.
The search for the man was suspended after more than 41 hours of search efforts by the US Coast Guard Announced in a press release.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tom Giegler,” said Capt. Jessica Davila, incident chief for the Coast Guard’s Southwest District. “The decisions to suspend searches are never easy and are made after careful consideration of all available information. Our thoughts are with those affected by his loss.”
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