Man who fell overboard from Carnival Cruise ship rescued by Coast Guard hours later after Gulf of Mexico search
A Carnival Cruise passenger who was last seen at an onboard bar was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico alive and responsive after a massive overnight search, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Friday.
The 28-year-old man, who was not identified, was rescued Thursday by the Coast Guard. He was taken to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport to receive treatment from emergency medical personnel and was in stable condition, Coast Guard officials said.
His sister had reported him missing to the crew of the Carnival Valor, saying she last saw him at a bar Wednesday night but lost track of him after he went to the bathroom around 11 p.m. When she went to check on him the following morning, she realized he never went back to his room, she said.
The crew searched the ship but were unsuccessful, and guests were informed of a man overboard incident.
A Carnival spokesperson said the ship retraced its route in a bid to find the missing guest. Soon after, the Coast Guard joined the air-and-sea search 200 miles into the gulf.
The passenger was ultimately spotted about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, La., around 8:20 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter hoisted him out of the ocean and then took him to safety.
Officials believe the man spent at least 15 hours in the water, where the overnight temperature was about 70 degrees, the Coast Guard said.
“We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome,” said Lt. Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator.
“It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety. If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel Crinis, this case could have had a much more difficult ending.”
The Carnival Valor has since been released by the Coast Guard and was again sailing toward its destination of Cozumel, Mexico. It left New Orleans on Wednesday.
