Cruise ship plunge survivor complained after rescue

THE cruise ship passenger who survived 10 hours in the sea continued to complain about her boyfriend even after being rescued, according to the captain who saved her.

Kay Longstaff, 46, had also expressed concern she would have to pay for the rescue mission after being picked up by the Croatian coastguard.

Miss Longstaff, an air hostess from Gloucestershire who is now living in Spain, had, according to reports, argued with her partner in the hours before she plunged into the Adriatic from deck seven of the Norwegian Star.

She spent nearly 10 hours in the waters 60 miles off the coast of Croatia, before a rescue operation involving planes, the coastguard and harbour boats found her drifting close to where she hit the water.

Croatian police confirmed that no criminal activity took place, and it is believed that Miss Longstaff may have jumped from the ship, leaving behind her bag and belongings.

Captain Lovro Oreskovic, in charge of the military patrol vessel that pulled her from the water, said: “She was talking about the boyfriend. I can’t tell you exactly what she said because it’s all under investigation, but she didn’t say anything positive.”

Miss Longstaff had posted loving photographs on social media as recently as June with Craig Rayment, a 43-year-old electrician, taken on the Costa del Sol where they live.

Mr Rayment has declined to comment but is thought to have collected Miss Longstaff from the hospital in Pula in Croatia where she was recovering and taken her to Venice.

It is thought the couple have now travelled back to Spain.