A cruise passenger has spoken out about a man who was rescued after going missing from a ship in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.
On Thanksgiving Eve, conquest-class cruise ship Carnival Valor began its journey from New Orleans.
However, little did its passengers know, one cruise-rider wouldn't remain on the ship the entire journey.
Carnival Valor staff were alerted to a missing persons case after a 28-year-old passenger - travelling with members of his family - was reported as having not returned to his room one night.
According to one of the ship's passengers, Whitney Gaines, the man had been with his sister in the bar just before he vanished, disappearing at around 11:00pm.
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"She said he was with me. And then he wasn't," Gaines told the Mail Online.
The ship was searched by the man's family overnight and into Thanksgiving Day according to Gaines.
The man was officially reported missing the next day at noon.
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Despite passengers spotting 'security starting to search the boat with a photo of the missing' man, Gaines' husband, Mike Anderson told CNN no more details were initially given to those on board.
The ship was later turned around and the captain of the cruise made a broadcast across the vessel to notify passengers the team had to perform a search-and-rescue operation.
But had they found the 28-year-old man?
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Coast Guard Lt. Phillip VanderWeit revealed the coast guard were made aware of the missing passenger at around 2:30pm on Thanksgiving Day.
Not only boats, but helicopters were sent out to search for the man - making use of 'all available resources' according to search and rescue coordinator for the USCG, Lt Seth Gross.
The man was spotted at around 8:25pm.
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The 28-year-old was discovered after having been treading water for over 15 hours.
USCG Petty Officer Ryan Graves explained the team knew it was the missing man as, despite suffering from 'signs of hypothermia, shock and dehydration' he was 'able to identify his name'.
However, the man wasn't able to give any 'clear indication of why he fell overboard or what time specifically'.
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Nevertheless, Gross resolved: "The fact that he was able to keep himself afloat and above the surface of the water for such an extended period of time, it's just something you can't take for granted and certainly something that'll stick with me forever.
"[...] This case is unlike anything I've been a part of. I think it kind of blows the norm, the normalcy, out of the water here, and really just shows the will to live is something that you need to account for in every search-and-rescue case.
"If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel CRINIS, this case could have had a much more difficult ending. It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety.
"[...] The will to live is something you have to account for in every search and rescue case. This is one of the absolutely longest [times in the water] I’ve heard about and one of those Thanksgiving miracles."
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The 28-year-old is reportedly in a stable condition and receiving treatment at hospital.
UNILAD has contacted Carnival Valor for comment.
Topics: Travel, US News, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck