A man who fell overboard on a Carnival cruise ship this week has been rescued after being found in the Gulf of Mexico 21 hours after he was last seen.
The 28-year-old, who has not been identified, was a passenger on the Carnival Valor, which left New Orleans on Wednesday for Cozumel, Mexico, CNN reported. The man had been drinking at a bar on board with his sister, but disappeared at around 11pm after saying he was going to the toilet.
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His sister reported him missing the next day, and after an unsuccessful search for the vessel, the vessel reversed course and contacted the Coast Guard to say a man was missing.
That evening, a passing merchant vessel spotted the man in the water about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, and alerted the Coast Guard, according to a Navy branch news release. A Coast Guard crew rescued him at 8:25 p.m
Lt. Seth Gross, USCG search and rescue coordinator, told CNN the man was now in a hospital in stable condition.
Carnival told People magazine that the company is grateful to everyone involved in the rescue.
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of everyone, especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the sailor who saw the guest in the water,” spokesman Matt Lupoli said.
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