A cruise ship employee was rescued early Saturday after spending more than nine hours in the ocean off Santa Catalina Island, authorities confirmed.
The Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Ovation of the Seas crew member was located nine nautical miles northeast of Avalon Harbor by a fishing vessel, according to Lt. Santiago Tamburini of the U.S. Coast Guard. Newport Beach lifeguards retrieved the man around 11:30 a.m. and transferred him to the Newport Beach Fire Department in stable condition. He was then taken to a hospital in Santa Ana for further medical evaluation.
Investigation Underway
The U.S. Coast Guard is examining the incident as a possible marine casualty, including the possibility of a suicide attempt, Tamburini stated. The agency has not confirmed whether the man was wearing a life jacket or using a flotation device during his time in the water. Officials believe he entered the ocean around 2 a.m. Saturday, attributing his survival to unusually warm sea temperatures linked to a marine heat wave and climate change-driven warming trends.
Royal Caribbean’s Response
Neither Royal Caribbean Cruises nor its spokespeople responded to requests for comment regarding the incident or the employee’s status. The Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck cruise ship with capacity for over 4,000 passengers and 1,550 crew, had completed a four-night cruise with stops at Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Los Angeles on Friday.
Rescue Details
Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda told CBS Los Angeles that rescuers located the man in open ocean waters, estimating he had been adrift for nine hours prior to discovery. The Coast Guard received a notification from a good Samaritan vessel that had recovered the conscious individual from the water. Newport Beach Lifeguards, who led the rescue operation, declined to provide additional details when contacted by media.
Environmental Factors
Authorities highlighted record-high sea surface temperatures in the region, influenced by a powerful El Niño event and decades of climate-change-driven ocean warming. Tamburini noted that while the conditions improved the man’s chances of survival, nine hours in open water remains a life-threatening scenario.
The Coast Guard’s marine inspections team continues to investigate the incident, which is classified as a possible marine casualty. Further updates on the investigation are pending.