MIRACLE AS BRITISH WOMAN SURVIVES 10 HOURS IN SEA
A BRITISH woman was rescued yesterday after spending 10 hours in the sea after falling overboard from a cruise ship.
The woman fell from the Norwegian Star just before midnight on Saturday night about 60 miles off the coast of Croatia.
A Croatian rescue ship, the Cavtat, found her swimming on Sunday morning less than a mile from where the 46-year-old had fallen into the Adriatic Sea.
Speaking after her ordeal the woman, who has not been identified but said her first name was Kay, told a Croatian TV station: “I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star, and I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me. I am very lucky to be alive.
“I was sitting on the back of the deck and it was mad.”
The Cavtat’s captain, Lovro Oreskovic, said that his crew “were extremely happy for saving a human life”.
It is believed the comparatively warm water of the Adriatic will have helped to save Kay’s life as she swam for her life about 60 nautical miles from the port of Vargarola.
Cold water shock starts to affect people at a temperature of 59F (15C) and lower, but the sea off the Croatian coast reaches an average of 75F during summer.
The woman had been treated at Pula General Hospital in the Croatian city of Pula, but had been discharged not long after coming in, staff confirmed.
She was on the ship as it was returning from a “seven-night Greek Isles from Venice” cruise, which would have cost passengers anything from £979 for an inside cabin to more than £2,000 for a mini-suite.
Reunited
The 965-feet-long Norwegian Star, which has recently been refurbished and features 10 bars and lounges, as well as a casino, retraced its route in an attempt to find the woman.
A spokesman for Norwegian Cruise Line, which operates the ship, said: “In the morning of August 19, a guest went overboard as Norwegian Star made her way to Venice. The Coastguard was notified and a search and rescue operation ensued. We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in a stable condition, and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment.
“We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family.
“We are actively working to assist guests whose travel plans will be affected by the expected delay resulting from the search and rescue operation. Embarkation in Venice for the next sailing would begin at about 5pm.”
However, reports suggested passengers were still waiting to disembark at 6.30pm local time.
Passenger Alex Brand-Piet tweeted: “Norwegian Star embarkation is a joke. NCL have not provided any food or drink for six hours and said to be back here at 4:30 and we are still waiting at 6:30.”
The circumstances of the drama are being investigated and the British Embassy in Croatia has been informed.
David Radas, a spokesman for the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs said: “It is still not confirmed whether the British woman has fallen off or jumped from the cruising ship.”