In a remarkable turn of events, a man who went overboard from the Carnival Valor cruise ship was rescued nearly 20 hours later by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 28-year-old passenger was reported missing by his sister on Thanksgiving Day after he failed to return from a visit to the ship’s bar the previous evening. Carnival Cruise Line immediately launched a search and notified the Coast Guard, prompting a massive air and sea rescue operation.
Miraculously, a Coast Guard helicopter spotted the man treading water more than 20 miles off the Louisiana coast. Despite exhaustion, hypothermia, and dehydration, he was responsive when rescued and was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition.
The survivor told rescuers he had no recollection of how he fell overboard but managed to stay afloat throughout the ordeal. His survival is considered highly unusual, given the time spent in open water.
Carnival officials praised the swift response of the Coast Guard and have since reviewed onboard safety protocols to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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