A Royal Caribbean passenger was rescued this week after falling overboard from the tenth deck of a cruise ship near the Dominican Republic, according to the US Coast Guard.
Authorities were alerted to the rescue of the 42-year-old woman, a US citizen, around 5:44 p.m. Sunday, according to a Coast Guard statement.
The Mariner of the Seas cruise ship was about 27 nautical miles south of Punta Cana on its way to Willemstad, Curacao, when the passenger fell overboard, according to the statement.
«The passenger was recovered alive and reported to be in good health, after allegedly falling into the water from the tenth deck of the vessel,» the Coast Guard said in a statement. “The cruise did not request the medical evacuation of the passenger. The passenger was kept at the cruise ship’s medical facility and was later transferred to the Hospital in Willemstad, Curaçao for evaluation.»
The Coast Guard said it is investigating the circumstances that led to the passenger falling overboard.
In a Wednesday statement to NBC News, Royal Caribbean confirmed that a passenger fell overboard near the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
“The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and they began searching for the guest. Fortunately, the guest successfully recovered and was taken on board. Our care team now offers assistance and support for them and their travel group. For the privacy of the guest and his family, we have no additional details to share,» the statement said.
The ship continued the voyage as planned, Royal Caribbean said.
WOFL of Orlando, Fox affiliate He spoke with passenger Matthew Kuhn, who was on the cruise with his family. She watched the rescue efforts from his balcony, she told the news outlet.
“I think it was amazing to see everyone on their balcony. Everyone was trying to help and the team was very responsive to everyone,” she said.
Kuhn said he did not expect the passenger to be found alive and was pleasantly surprised that he was wrong.
«Shit, they found her and she’s alive,» he told WOFL.
NBC News contacted Kuhn on Wednesday. He declined to comment, but did share some videos he posted on Twitter about the rescue efforts.
In one videoa small boat can be seen in the distance and the people aboard the cruise ship can be heard clapping, whistling and cheering.