The woman who dove into Greek waters while aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise said she jumped ship because she “wanted to disembark”, according to reports.
The 44-year-old Salvadoran passenger went overboard on the ship Odyssey of the Seas early on October 9 – and was spotted conscious in the Ionian Sea near the island of Zakynthos early Saturday, the Greek Foreign Ministry said, according to USA Today..
She later claimed she decided to jump ship because she “wanted to get on board,” according to the New York Times.
The emergency sparked a harrowing 20-hour ordeal until crews aboard the cargo ship MSC Rossella III rescued it from the sea in the early hours of October 10.
Dramatic footage released by the Hellenic C Coastguard shows the crew approaching the woman, who was floating in a life jacket – and shining a strobe light at her as they threw a rope over the bow of the boat.
The woman then pulled herself towards the ship.
She received first aid on board the cargo ship before being rushed to a local hospital.
The Katakolo Port Authority is still investigating the incident.
Gn world
