Fishermen pull cruise ship pianist from Pacific after nine-hour ordeal

Two Newport Beach fishermen rescued a cruise ship pianist from the Pacific Ocean on Friday after he spent approximately nine hours treading water. The man was located roughly 20 miles off the California coast and is expected to survive, according to the US Coast Guard.

Sean Norton and Grant Garrett found the crew member while returning from a marlin fishing trip near Catalina Island. By noon, the pair had hauled the exhausted man onto their boat. Garrett described the moment the captain spotted the figure in the water. "Yeah, it's a human being. Stop the boat; let's get all of our lines in," Garrett told CBS News.

The pianist worked on the Ovation of the Seas, a 14-deck vessel operated by Royal Caribbean. He remained largely silent during the rescue. Norton noted that the crew member offered only one comment about the experience. "The only thing he said to me was, Thank you. I thought I was gonna die," Norton said.

Newport Beach lifeguards responded to the scene after the fishermen sent out an emergency maritime call. Battalion chief Adam Yacenda stated the victim was found between 15 and 20 miles offshore. Yacenda described the location as "pretty much in the middle of the ocean." The man was transported to a hospital following the rescue.

Norton attributed the survival to unusually warm water temperatures. He cited a "crazy super El Niño year" and noted the ocean was 76 degrees Fahrenheit. "A different year, no way he makes it," Norton said. He estimated the man may have been in the water for close to ten hours.

The US Coast Guard has opened an investigation into how the employee fell overboard. Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the incident and said it is supporting its employee. A company spokesperson told CBS that the firm is providing assistance during this difficult time. "To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share," the spokesperson said.