Passenger rescued near Greece after 20 hours at sea
A freighter located the 44-year-old woman with a life buoy following a search involving Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas and Greek authorities.
A 44-year-old El Salvador national was rescued near Zakynthos, Greece, after spending about 20 hours at sea, according to a Greek coast guard spokesperson and a Hellenic Coast Guard release.
The woman was traveling aboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas on October 9 when she apparently took a life buoy and jumped overboard. The spokesperson said she later told rescuers that she had wanted to leave the ship. However, the Coast Guard’s October 11 release did not describe how she entered the water.
Two Coast Guard boats, a Navy helicopter and Odyssey of the Seas participated in the search. Early on October 10, a passing cargo ship detected a distress beacon on an overturned orange life buoy and then saw the woman clinging to it. Authorities said she was fully conscious.
A Greek coast guard patrol boat rescued the passenger. She received first aid after being brought aboard and was returned to land. She was subsequently taken to a hospital in Pyrgos for a psychiatric evaluation and other health tests.
