A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador has been rescued alive after spending nearly 20 hours in the Mediterranean Sea following an overboard incident involving Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, according to reports citing Greek authorities.
The woman was found conscious in the early hours of Saturday, October 10, after an extensive search involving the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Greek Air Force helicopter and commercial vessels operating in the area.
The rescue took place approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea.
According to reports citing the Hellenic Coast Guard, a cargo ship participating in the search spotted the flashing light attached to the woman’s lifebelt. A Coast Guard rescue vessel subsequently reached her and brought her aboard.
She received first aid before being transported to the port of Katakolo in the western Peloponnese. She was then taken to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical assessment and observation.
Authorities had not publicly established the circumstances that led to her entering the water.
Cruise Ship Diverts During Search
The incident occurred while Odyssey of the Seas, a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, was travelling from Mykonos towards Naples, Italy.
Greek authorities were reportedly notified on Friday, October 9, that a passenger had gone overboard, prompting a major search operation.
Two Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter and merchant ships in the surrounding waters took part in the effort.
The cruise ship also turned back to assist with the search, remaining in the area as rescue operations continued.
According to cruise industry reports, the incident forced the vessel to cancel its scheduled call at Naples.
Flashing Lifebelt Light Led Rescuers to Woman
The flashing light attached to the woman’s lifebelt proved crucial in locating her in the open sea.
After spotting the signal, the cargo ship alerted the rescue operation, allowing the Coast Guard vessel to reach her.
Spending such an extended period in the water can expose a person to serious risks, including hypothermia, exhaustion and dehydration. The woman was conscious when rescued, but further details about her medical condition were not immediately available.
Investigation Into Overboard Incident
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, including how the woman entered the water and what happened in the hours before she was located.
The rescue highlights the importance of coordination between maritime authorities, aircraft and commercial vessels when responding to emergencies at sea.
For the woman, the operation ended with a remarkable rescue after almost 20 hours in the Mediterranean.
Source: Reports citing the Hellenic Coast Guard and Greek media.
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