Woman Rescued After 20 Hours Overboard From Odyssey of the Seas
Crew aboard the cargo vessel MSC Rossella III spotted a flashing light on the woman’s flotation device; she was taken to Katakolo and then a hospital in Pyrgos.
A 44-year-old Salvadoran passenger rescued after about 20 hours in the Ionian Sea told rescuers she had jumped from Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas because she “wanted to disembark,” a Greek coast guard spokesperson told AFP. She went overboard early on October 9 and was found conscious in a lifebuoy early on October 10.
Crew aboard the cargo vessel MSC Rossella III located the woman after spotting a flashing light attached to her flotation device. A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel recovered her, provided first aid and took her to the mainland port of Katakolo.
She was transferred by ambulance to Andreas Papandreou General Hospital in Pyrgos for observation and examinations. A local prosecutor also ordered a psychiatric evaluation, according to AFP. Her name has not been released.
“We immediately launched a search and rescue effort,” Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement to USA TODAY. The company said its Care Team was assisting the passenger’s loved ones and declined to provide further details, citing the privacy of the guest and her family.
Naples visit canceled after prolonged search
Odyssey of the Seas spent approximately 14 hours participating in the search before resuming its voyage toward Italy, according to passenger accounts. The operation forced the cancellation of its October 10 call at Naples, the final scheduled port visit of the cruise.
The ship was operating a seven-night Greek Isles itinerary that departed Civitavecchia on October 4. It had left Mykonos and was sailing toward Naples when the emergency occurred.
The vessel returned directly to Civitavecchia, the port serving Rome, and completed the sailing on October 11 without a change to its scheduled disembarkation date. No disruption was announced for the following seven-night Greek Isles voyage.
Aircraft and commercial vessels joined the search
The initial overboard location was approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos. The Hellenic Coast Guard’s Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center coordinated the response, which involved two Coast Guard vessels, a Hellenic Air Force helicopter and commercial ships in the area.
The cruise ship reversed course and searched the surrounding waters. Nearby merchant vessels also assisted after authorities activated the local emergency plan.
Footage released by the Coast Guard shows the woman floating inside an orange life ring as rescuers illuminate her position and throw a rope toward her. She catches the line and pulls herself toward the rescue vessel. Authorities have not explained how she obtained the flotation device.
Historical figures compiled for Cruise Lines International Association by consultancy G.P. Wild recorded 212 overboard incidents involving passengers and crew worldwide between 2009 and 2019, with 48 people rescued. Over that period, cruise capacity rose by 68%, while the incident rate fell by nearly 35%.
The Katakolo Port Authority is investigating the circumstances of the incident. Authorities have not released a detailed account of the events leading up to the jump.
