A 44-year-old woman jumped into the sea from a cruise ship near Greece; 20 hours later, she was found alive in a lifebuoy, telling rescuers she wanted to disembark | World News
A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador was rescued after spending around 20 hours in the Ionian Sea after jumping from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas near the Greek island of Zakynthos. The woman was found conscious inside a lifebuoy in the early hours of Saturday, October 10, after a cargo ship participating in the search spotted her in the water. According to a Greek Coast Guard spokesperson cited by AFP, she told rescuers that she had jumped because she wanted to disembark. The dramatic rescue followed an extensive search involving the Hellenic Coast Guard, the cruise ship, a helicopter and nearby vessels. She was given first aid before being taken to a hospital in Greece for medical examinations.
How the woman was found after 20 hours at sea
The incident occurred early on Friday, October 9, when Odyssey of the Seas was sailing southwest of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. Greek authorities were alerted that a passenger had entered the water, prompting the activation of an emergency response and a search operation.The Hellenic Coast Guard deployed patrol boats, while a helicopter from the Hellenic Air Force and nearby commercial vessels assisted in the search. The cruise ship also participated in efforts to locate the missing passenger.In the early hours of Saturday, the cargo ship MSC Rossella III, which was helping with the search, spotted the woman floating inside a circular lifebuoy. A light attached to the flotation device helped the crew identify her in the dark water. She was conscious when found, and a Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel subsequently recovered her.
What she told rescuers about jumping from the ship
The circumstances surrounding the incident became clearer after the rescue. A Greek Coast Guard spokesperson told AFP that the woman said she had jumped from the vessel because she wanted to disembark.The reported explanation added an unusual dimension to the incident, as the passenger was found far from the cruise ship after spending approximately 20 hours in the water. Authorities have not publicly provided a detailed account of what led her to make that decision.The woman was identified as a 44-year-old Salvadoran national. Her name was not released in the reports reviewed.
How the rescue operation unfolded
The search involved several maritime and aerial resources. After the initial alert, Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter were sent to the area, while ships nearby were asked to assist. The cruise ship also took part in the search.The discovery by MSC Rossella III proved crucial. Once the cargo ship’s crew spotted the woman, they alerted the authorities and helped facilitate her recovery. Video released by the Hellenic Coast Guard showed rescuers throwing a rope towards her as she floated inside the orange lifebuoy. She grabbed the rope and pulled herself towards the rescue vessel.After being brought aboard, she received first aid. The Coast Guard then transported her to the port of Katakolo on the western coast of Greece.
The woman was taken to hospital after the rescue
Following her arrival at Katakolo, the woman was transferred by ambulance to a hospital in the nearby city of Pyrgos for medical observation and examinations.According to reporting by CBS News and AFP, a local prosecutor ordered a psychiatric evaluation as part of the subsequent assessment. The Katakolo Port Authority began investigating the circumstances of the incident.The Coast Guard confirmed that the woman was conscious when found and received first aid after being recovered. Her survival after such a prolonged period in the water drew attention to the role of the lifebuoy in keeping her afloat and making her visible to the cargo ship’s crew.
Royal Caribbean responds to the incident
Royal Caribbean confirmed that a passenger had gone overboard and said it had launched a search-and-rescue effort in coordination with the authorities. The company also said its Care Team was providing support and assistance to the passenger’s loved ones.The incident occurred during a Mediterranean cruise aboard Odyssey of the Seas, which had departed from Civitavecchia, Italy, on October 4 for a week-long sailing. The ship was scheduled to return to Italy on October 11.Greek authorities are investigating the circumstances of the incident, while the rescue itself remains notable for the woman’s survival and the discovery that she had remained afloat inside a lifebuoy for around 20 hours.
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