A 44-year-old woman survived nearly 20 hours in open water after going overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, in a frightening ordeal that ended when a passing cargo ship spotted her in the sea.
The woman, who is from El Salvador, was aboard the Odyssey of the Seas when she went overboard early Friday. She was later discovered in the Ionian Sea near the Greek island of Zakynthos early Saturday, according to reports citing Greek officials.
A cargo ship first noticed the woman in the water and alerted authorities. When Greek coast guard rescuers reached her, she was still conscious and clinging to a lifebuoy fitted with a flashing light. Rescue footage showed officials throwing her a rope and pulling her aboard a patrol boat in the dark.
After being brought to safety, the woman was taken to a hospital in Katakolo for medical evaluation. Officials said she had spent approximately 20 hours in the water.
According to a coast guard spokesperson quoted by Agence France-Presse, the woman reportedly told rescuers that she had jumped from the cruise ship because she “wanted to disembark.” Authorities have not publicly provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Royal Caribbean said it had launched a search-and-rescue effort and was cooperating with authorities. The company also said its care team was providing support to the woman’s loved ones, while declining to share additional personal details.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances that led to the woman going overboard and how the rescue unfolded.
Her survival after spending so many hours at sea has drawn attention to the role played by the cargo ship crew and the coast guard in locating and rescuing her.