Cruise passenger rescued near Zakynthos after 20 hours at sea
A cargo ship located the 44-year-old woman alive and conscious after spotting a flashing light on her flotation device.
A 44-year-old passenger from El Salvador was rescued southwest of the Greek island of Zakynthos after being reported missing from the Bahamas-flagged Odyssey of the Seas.
The Greek coastguard said the Royal Caribbean Cruises ship was sailing through the area when the incident occurred early on Friday, October 9. A coastguard spokesperson told AFP that the woman later told rescuers she had jumped because she wanted to leave the ship. The circumstances surrounding her fall remain under investigation by the Port Authority of Katakolo.
Two Coast Guard vessels, a Greek Air Force helicopter and commercial ships operating in the region participated in the search. The cargo vessel MSC ROSSELLA III found the woman in the early hours of Saturday after its crew spotted a flashing light attached to her flotation device. She was alive and conscious when recovered.
A coastguard officer said the passenger had spent 20 hours at sea. Coast Guard personnel administered first aid before transferring her to Katakolo in the western Peloponnese. She was then taken to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical examination and observation.