Cruise pianist rescued after nine hours in Pacific off California

A pianist employed on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas was rescued after being found treading water off the California coast. The survival after an apparent fall overboard matters because he may have spent about nine hours in the Pacific before two fishermen spotted him.

The fishermen found him near Catalina Island, roughly 15 to 20 miles offshore, and brought him to safety; he was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Lifeguard officials believe he may have fallen into the water at around 02:30, while the US Coast Guard is investigating. One fisherman suggested unusually warm sea temperatures, around 24C, may have helped him survive.