Cruise ship pianist rescued after hours in Pacific off California

A crew member working as a pianist on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas was rescued after being found in the Pacific off California, where he may have spent about nine hours in the water, US officials said.

Two fishermen spotted the man near Catalina Island on Friday, about 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32km) offshore, and pulled him from the water. He was conscious and taken to hospital in a stable condition, according to the US Coast Guard.

Newport Beach lifeguard officials said he may have fallen overboard at about 02:30. The man has not been publicly identified. Royal Caribbean said it was supporting him and would not share further details, citing his privacy.

The fishermen told US broadcaster CBS that the man identified himself as a pianist aboard the ship. One, Sean Norton, said the man thanked him and told him: “I thought I was gonna die.”

Norton attributed the crew member’s survival to warm sea temperatures, saying the water was about 24C. That was his explanation; officials have not stated what enabled the man to survive. The Coast Guard said it was investigating the incident.