A pianist working on a cruise ship was discovered treading water in the Pacific Ocean after falling from the vessel.
The unnamed 37-year-old musician was found by chance by two fishermen on a trip near Santa Catalina Island off the coast of southern California.
He had been working onboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck ship which carries more than 4,000 passengers and was bound for Ensenada in Mexico.
Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were on a fishing trip when they spotted the man bobbing in the water on Friday.
Garrett told CBS the cruise ship employee was in ‘total shock’ when they pulled him out of the sea and said ‘thank you, I thought I was gonna die’.
Coast guards said the man had been transferred to hospital and was expected to survive.
They believe the pianist had gone overboard at around 2.30am, nearly ten hours before he was found by the fishermen.
Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda confirmed a ‘conscious individual’ was found some 20 to 30 miles out to sea.
Norton added the unusually warm sea temperatures brought on by the super El Niño effect had likely saved the man’s life.
‘This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water’s 76 degrees’, he said.
‘A different year, no way he makes it.’
The climate phenomenon is now the strongest on record, with ocean temperatures around 3C above average.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group said it was providing support for the crew member.
‘To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share’, a spokesperson added.
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