Overboard in Warm Water

Overboard in Warm Water

“Safety Moments, presented at CCA Stations and Posts”

By Chuck Hawley, San Francisco Station, December 7, 2022

In addition to stories about the increased cost of turkeys, the miserable weather in Buffalo NY, and the crash of at least one crypto company, a remarkable story about a man overboard incident was reported on Thanksgiving. A passenger on a Carnival Cruise Ship, traveling from New Orleans to Cozumel, was reported missing about 13 hours after he was last seen onboard. A search ensued, and the passenger was spotted by a commercial vessel, which then relayed the coordinates to the Coast Guard. He was picked up by a Coast Guard MH-60J shortly thereafter, apparently hypothermic, and was transferred to a local hospital where he was reportedly recovering. It’s not  known how he ended up in the water, but credit for his lengthy survival was given to the 70℉ water temperature and the swimmer’s “will to survive.” It’s not known what he was wearing, but he did not appear to have had any sort of flotation, nor did he have clothing or devices that would insulate him from the Gulf water.