A Royal Caribbean pianist was rescued after spending nearly nine hours in the Pacific Ocean, where he was found treading water by two Southern California fishermen returning from a fishing trip Friday.
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, both from Newport Beach, were sailing home after a morning of marlin fishing near Catalina Island when the boat’s captain spotted the man in the water around noon. He was nearly 20 miles offshore, CBS LA reported.
Garrett said the man regained consciousness and told the fishermen that he worked as a pianist aboard the 14-deck Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.
“The only thing he said to me was, ‘Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,’” Norton told CBS LA.
Once the fishermen brought him aboard, the crew issued an emergency maritime call. Newport Beach lifeguards then responded to assist with the rescue.
“It was approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore, pretty much in the middle of the ocean,” Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda told CBS LA.
Officials believe the man may have fallen overboard from the cruise ship roughly nine hours before he was discovered.
