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Royal Caribbean pianist rescued after 9 hours in Pacific Ocean
A 37-year-old pianist working aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending approximately nine hours treading water in the Pacific Ocean. The crew member was discovered on a Friday by two Newport Beach fishermen, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, while they were returning from a fishing trip near Catalina Island.
The man was spotted roughly 20 miles off the California coast. Rescuers reported that the individual was in total shock but conscious when pulled from the water. Following the rescue, Newport Beach lifeguards assisted in transporting the man to a local hospital, where he is expected to survive.
Authorities believe the man may have gone overboard around 2:30 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Fishermen noted that the unusually warm ocean temperatures, driven by a strong El Niño phenomenon, likely played a critical role in the man's survival.
Entities
Catalina Island · Grant Garrett · Newport Beach · Ovation of the Seas · Royal Caribbean · Royal Caribbean Group · Sean Norton · U.S. Coast Guard