Falling off a ship during a cruise is an accident that you would probably expect to be fatal. You are even less likely to survive after being lost at sea overnight. In what has been reported as a “Thanksgiving miracle”, a man traveling in the Gulf of Mexico survived being at sea for more than 15 hours and was pulled alive from the water.
The passenger was drinking on board the giant ship Carnival Valor when the accident occurred, Sky News reported. When he did not return from the toilet and did not return to his cabin during the night, the passenger’s sister was alarmed and a massive search mission was launched.
The coast guard sent boats and an Ocean Sentry surveillance plane to search for the 28-year-old man. They managed to narrow the search area after a nearby carrier named Crinis reported seeing a person in the water.
The incredible footage shows how the cameras detected the man in the water and a Jayhawk helicopter crew was able to successfully take him out. It is not known exactly how long the man remained in the water, but it is reported that about 32 hours passed since his disappearance was first noticed until he was removed from the ocean. Rescuers estimate it may have been in the water for more than 15 hours.
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The passenger was taken to New Orleans Lakefront Airport for medical treatment after his rescue. His condition was reported to be stable, although he showed signs of hypothermia and dehydration, The Guardian reported.
While the chances of surviving a crash from a cruise ship are pretty low, it’s not impossible. Depending on the altitude from which you fall and how choppy the sea is, landing in water can be traumatic, similar to falling on hard ground. There is also the possibility of hitting something while falling.