Norwegian Cruise Line worker who fell overboard rescued nearly a day later

A cruise ship crew member fell overboard and was rescued by another passenger vessel passing by after nearly 24 hours at sea.

The unidentified 33-year-old went overboard as the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway sailed back to Miami on Saturday, the cruise line said. The Coast Guard was alerted and started searching for him.

By Sunday, he still hadn’t been found — until vacationers and crew members aboard the Carnival Glory, a Carnival Cruise Line ship on its way to Cozumel, Mexico, spotted the castaway drifting in clear waters about 20 miles north of Cuba.

“We slowed down, turned the ship around and maneuvered the Carnival Glory near where the person was in the water,” said Capt. Pero Grubješić of the Glory.

A lifeboat was lowered to retrieve the man, who the ship’s doctors said was in stable condition.

“He was alert but obviously distressed from being in the water for so long,” said Safety Officer Cesare Mattera, who was in the lifeboat.

One passenger, Debbie Mortham, took a picture of the rescue, tweeting it out and writing: “Not our man overboard but man treading for at least a day. Tears & cheers.”

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