Disney Cruise Ship Rescused Man
Posted: Sep Thu 03, 2009 11:24 am
Officials: Rescued Man Jumped From Ship
Man Treads Water For More Than Hour Before Rescue
POSTED: Thursday, September 3, 2009
UPDATED: 12:08 pm EDT September 3, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A 34-year-old man rescued from the Atlantic Ocean by members of a Disney cruise ship jumped into the water from another cruise ship, officials said.
VIDEO: Rescue | Coast Guard | Man Jumped
IMAGES: Cruise Ships, Viewer Photos
Brevard County sheriff's Lt. Mike DeMorat said the man jumped from the Carnival Sensation cruise ship at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday nearly 28 nautical miles off the coast of Port St. Lucie.
The was taken to an undisclosed hospital for a mental health evaluation, DeMorat said. The man's name has not been released.
In a statement, Carnival said the man was seen jumping overboard from a balcony stateroom on the Carnival Sensation, which was on the final night of a four-day cruise to the Bahamas and returning to its home port of Port Canaveral.
A passenger aboard the Sensation said the man could be heard arguing with a woman.
"He threatened to jump, and she said, 'Go ahead,' and he did," said Marie McDonald, who was vacationing from New York. "Then we heard the man screaming, 'Help! Help!"'
The Miami Coast Guard office responded with a helicopter and two boats to try and locate the man, but he was spotted by the Disney Wonder cruise ship just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The man was lifted aboard the Disney Wonder after treading water for more than an hour, Coast Guard officials said.
"We were on our way back from the Bahamas and did respond to an emergency call," said Rena Langley, spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Lines. "We found him but didn’t know how long he was in the water. We deployed a four-crew rescue boat and brought him aboard. Clearly, we are very pleased to respond and assist with this. We’re proud of our crew members."
The rescued man remained on the Disney Wonder as it sailed back to its home port of Port Canaveral, according to Carnival.
"Two things saved his life: He knew how to swim and hold on to hope, and he was wearing a white T-shirt beneath a full moon. The white T-shirt made it easier for them to see him," Johnny Gonzalez, of the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, told Local 6 News partner Florida Today. "He was a little tired, but in good condition."
"This gentleman is very lucky he was found alive and well in a reasonable amount of time. We're just very pleased that this story has a happy ending," said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Man Treads Water For More Than Hour Before Rescue
POSTED: Thursday, September 3, 2009
UPDATED: 12:08 pm EDT September 3, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A 34-year-old man rescued from the Atlantic Ocean by members of a Disney cruise ship jumped into the water from another cruise ship, officials said.
VIDEO: Rescue | Coast Guard | Man Jumped
IMAGES: Cruise Ships, Viewer Photos
Brevard County sheriff's Lt. Mike DeMorat said the man jumped from the Carnival Sensation cruise ship at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday nearly 28 nautical miles off the coast of Port St. Lucie.
The was taken to an undisclosed hospital for a mental health evaluation, DeMorat said. The man's name has not been released.
In a statement, Carnival said the man was seen jumping overboard from a balcony stateroom on the Carnival Sensation, which was on the final night of a four-day cruise to the Bahamas and returning to its home port of Port Canaveral.
A passenger aboard the Sensation said the man could be heard arguing with a woman.
"He threatened to jump, and she said, 'Go ahead,' and he did," said Marie McDonald, who was vacationing from New York. "Then we heard the man screaming, 'Help! Help!"'
The Miami Coast Guard office responded with a helicopter and two boats to try and locate the man, but he was spotted by the Disney Wonder cruise ship just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The man was lifted aboard the Disney Wonder after treading water for more than an hour, Coast Guard officials said.
"We were on our way back from the Bahamas and did respond to an emergency call," said Rena Langley, spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Lines. "We found him but didn’t know how long he was in the water. We deployed a four-crew rescue boat and brought him aboard. Clearly, we are very pleased to respond and assist with this. We’re proud of our crew members."
The rescued man remained on the Disney Wonder as it sailed back to its home port of Port Canaveral, according to Carnival.
"Two things saved his life: He knew how to swim and hold on to hope, and he was wearing a white T-shirt beneath a full moon. The white T-shirt made it easier for them to see him," Johnny Gonzalez, of the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, told Local 6 News partner Florida Today. "He was a little tired, but in good condition."
"This gentleman is very lucky he was found alive and well in a reasonable amount of time. We're just very pleased that this story has a happy ending," said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
