A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador was found alive after spending about 20 hours in the open sea following an overboard incident from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Dramatic rescue off Greek coast
The passenger went into the water early on Friday, October 9, 2026, from the Odyssey of the Seas. The ship was sailing through the Ionian Sea southwest of the Greek island of Zakynthos, heading from Mykonos toward Naples.
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the woman later told rescuers she jumped because she “wanted to disembark.” She had grabbed a bright orange lifebuoy before entering the water.
An emergency search began at once. The cruise ship turned around and searched for many hours. Greek coast guard boats, a navy helicopter and nearby vessels joined the effort.
Found conscious in the dark
In the early hours of Saturday, October 10, the cargo ship MSC Rossella III spotted a flashing light on a lifebuoy roughly 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos. The woman was floating inside the ring fully conscious.
Coast guard crews threw her a rope and pulled her to safety. Video released by authorities shows the nighttime rescue, with rescuers calling out to check if she was okay as she grabbed the line.
She received first aid on the rescue vessel and was taken to the port of Katakolo. From there she was transferred to a hospital in Pyrgos for treatment of mild hypothermia and further medical checks including a psychiatric evaluation ordered by a prosecutor.
Royal Caribbean confirmed it launched an immediate search and rescue operation and is supporting the guest’s family. The incident remains under investigation by Greek authorities.
The woman’s survival after nearly a day at sea is considered remarkable as many overboard cases end far differently.
