09.11.2026 23:30
The 37-year-old pianist who fell into the sea at night from a passenger ship sailing off the coast of California struggled to survive for about 9 hours in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The man, who was waiting to be rescued about 30 kilometers off the coast, was spotted by two fishermen who happened to be passing through the area and was pulled out of the water. The words the pianist, who returned from the brink of death, said after being rescued revealed the fear he experienced.
A 37-year-old pianist who fell into the sea from a cruise ship off the US state of California fought for his life in the Pacific Ocean for about 9 hours. The man, spotted by two fishermen about 30 kilometers offshore, cheated death. The first words he said when rescued revealed the horror he had experienced.
HE FELL INTO THE SEA DURING THE NIGHT
The incident occurred off California on November 6. It is believed that the 37-year-old male staff member, who worked as a pianist on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas owned by Royal Caribbean, fell into the sea around 02:30 at night for a reason not yet known.
The pianist who fell from the ship heading toward Ensenada, Mexico, waited for hours to be rescued in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The man remained in the water for about 9 hours and struggled to survive 24 to 32 kilometers from the coast.
HE HELD ON TO LIFE THANKS TO TWO FISHERMEN
In the morning, two fishermen named Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, returning from fishing near Catalina Island, noticed there was a person in the middle of the sea. When they stopped after a warning from the boat's captain, they realized the person in the water needed help.
The fishermen immediately sprang into action and pulled the pianist onto the boat by his arms. The man, who was in great shock, told the fishermen when he came to that he worked as a pianist on the ship.
It was reported that the pianist thanked those who saved him and said, “Thank you. I thought I was going to die.”
EL NIÑO MAY HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE
After the rescue operation, the fishing boat made an emergency call. Newport Beach lifeguard teams who came to the area handed the pianist over to medical teams.
It was announced that the man taken to the hospital was in good health and was expected to survive. US Coast Guard teams launched an investigation to determine how the fall into the sea occurred.
Fisherman Sean Norton said that the ocean water being warmer than normal due to El Niño may have been effective in the pianist surviving for about 9 hours. Noting that the water temperature was about 24 degrees, Norton said, “In another year, he could not have survived.”
Royal Caribbean also stated in its announcement that they support their employee and that they would not share further details about the incident due to the staff member's privacy.