OC fishermen find cruise ship employee treading water miles off coast

Two Newport Beach fishermen recovered a Royal Caribbean cruise vessel worker treading h2o astir 20 miles disconnected the seashore portion returning location from a sportfishing travel adjacent Catalina Island connected Friday.

Sean Norton and Grant Garrett were sportfishing for marlin successful the morning. By noon, they had rescued the antheral who had been treading h2o astir 20 miles disconnected the seashore successful the mediate of the Pacific Ocean. 

"I'm like, 'Yeah, it's a quality being. Stop the boat; let's get each of our lines in," Garrett said, recalling the infinitesimal the boat's skipper spotted the antheral successful the water. 

"Grant and I each got an limb and lifted him up," Norton said. "He was successful full shock."

Garrett said erstwhile the antheral came to, helium told them helium was a pianist connected the 14-deck Royal Caribbean cruise vessel called the "Ovation of the Seas."

"The lone happening helium said to maine was, 'Thank you. I thought I was gonna die,'" Norton said. 

After pulling him from the water, the unit enactment retired an exigency maritime call, and a radical of Newport Beach lifeguards responded to help. 

"It was astir 15 to 20 miles offshore, beauteous overmuch successful the mediate of the ocean," Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda said. They judge helium whitethorn person gone overboard from the vessel astir 9 hours earlier helium was found.

The man, who inactive hasn't been identified, was hospitalized aft the ordeal and is expected to survive, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, which is investigating the incidental and however helium went overboard.

"You person this brainsick ace El Niño year. This feline was successful the h2o for astir apt 10 hours, but the water's 76 degrees," Norton said. "A antithetic year, nary mode helium makes it."

In a connection to CBS LA, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson shared, "[w]e are providing enactment and assistance to our unit subordinate during this hard time. To respect the privateness of our employee, we person nary further details to share."