Yoga fitness and singing helped a British woman survive for 10 hours in the sea after falling from a cruise ship, she is reported to have told a rescuer.
The passenger, named in reports as Kay Longstaff, was pulled from the Adriatic Sea on Sunday morning, having fallen from the back of the Norwegian Star as it sailed 60 miles off the Croatian coast on Saturday.
An unnamed rescuer told The Sun: “She said the fact that she practices yoga helped her as she was fit. And she said she was singing to not feel cold in the sea overnight.”
Ms Longstaff reportedly fell from an aft deck of the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel as it sailed for Venice late on Saturday night.
She added: “I am very lucky to be alive.
“I was sitting at the back of the deck.”
David Radas, Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs spokesman, said that by checking CCTV rescuers knew the exact moment Ms Longstaff fell in the water.
Lovro Oreskovic, captain of the Cavtat Coast Guard rescue ship, said they were “extremely happy for saving a human life”.
The Croatian Coast Guard said the ship and an aircraft launched a search at around 6.30am local time on Sunday after Ms Longstaff fell just before midnight on Saturday.
The ship’s crew spotted her in the sea around 9.40am and one of the crew dived in the sea to haul her out and take her to hospital.
She was found around a mile from where she fell.
Norwegian Cruise Line said the ship had been delayed amid the search and rescue operation.
The spokeswoman said: “We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family.”
It is understood the UK Foreign Office has been in contact with both the cruise line and Croatian port authorities since the rescue.
