A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador survived about 20 hours at sea after going overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas near Greece, according to the Greek coast guard.
The cargo ship MSC Rossella III spotted her conscious inside a life ring early on October 10. A coast guard rescue vessel then recovered her and provided first aid.
Ships and Helicopter Joined the Search
The Hellenic Coast Guard said in an October 11 statement that authorities received the overboard report on the morning of October 9, about 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos.
Officials activated an emergency response plan. A rescue vessel, a patrol boat, nearby ships and a Greek air force Super Puma helicopter joined the search.
The MSC Rossella III, which was taking part in the operation, located the woman the following morning. The official account distinguishes between the cargo ship spotting her and the coast guard vessel bringing her aboard.
Woman Taken to Hospital
Rescuers brought the woman to Katakolo, where an ambulance took her to a hospital in Pyrgos for monitoring and medical examinations. Authorities confirmed she was conscious when found but did not provide a detailed medical update.
A coast guard spokesperson told AFP that she had spent about 20 hours in the water, Euronews reported.
The spokesperson also said the woman told authorities she had entered the water because she wanted to leave the ship. The coast guard’s written bulletin did not explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Katakolo port authority is conducting a preliminary investigation.