A woman from El Salvador, aged 44, was successfully rescued after going overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Ionian Sea. This occurred near the island of Zakynthos, as reported by the Hellenic Coast Guard.
The woman was traveling on the Odyssey of the Seas when she found herself in the water for about 20 hours, clinging to a lifebuoy. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided this information to USA Today. Her discovery was attributed to the cargo ship MSC Rossella III, which noticed her in the water holding onto the bright orange buoy. The crew of the ship promptly notified the authorities, leading to a rescue operation by the Greek Coast Guard. They threw ropes to the woman and pulled her to safety.
The woman reportedly jumped from the ship intentionally, expressing a desire to leave it. This was stated by a Coast Guard spokesperson via Agence France-Presse. Following the rescue, she was taken to the port of Katakolo and then to a local hospital for medical care. A prosecutor has since ordered a psychiatric evaluation, according to the Coast Guard.
In response to the event, Greek authorities dispatched both a Coast Guard vessel and a military helicopter to assist in the search efforts. Fox News Digital made contact with Royal Caribbean for an official comment on the matter.
This incident bears similarity to another event last year. A man jumped off the Rhapsody of the Seas, also a Royal Caribbean ship, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This act was an attempt to escape $17,000 in gambling debt. The man, Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, survived his jump and was later held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.