A Royal Caribbean passenger overboard in Greece was rescued nearly 20 hours after she went into the Ionian Sea near Zakynthos on Oct. 9. The 44-year-old Salvadorian woman was found conscious on Oct. 10 while floating inside a lifebuoy.
Zakynthos Rescue Search
The Hellenic Coast Guard said a local emergency plan was immediately activated, and the search and rescue effort drew in the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Hellenic Coast Guard Patrol Vessel, passing ships and a Super Puma helicopter of the Hellenic Air Force. A cargo ship located the woman on Oct. 10, ending the search in open water southwest of Zakynthos.
Royal Caribbean Group said the ship immediately launched a search and rescue effort and was working with authorities. The company also said, "Our Care Team is actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share".
Katakolo Port Authority Inquiry
After the rescue, the woman was taken by ambulance to a hospital for medical monitoring and examinations. The Katakolo Port Authority is conducting a preliminary investigation, which means officials are still examining the sequence of events around the overboard incident rather than treating the episode as closed.
The woman survived nearly 20 hours at sea, but the available account does not explain how she ended up overboard from the Royal Caribbean ship in the first place. That unanswered point now sits at the center of the preliminary investigation, and the next clear step is the Port Authority’s review of what happened on Oct. 9.
