A dramatic rescue unfolded in the Caribbean Sea when a 42-year-old woman fell from the 10th deck of Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas. The incident occurred on Sunday, southeast of the Dominican Republic, as the ship was en route to Willemstad, Curaçao.
Video footage captured the moments after the woman plunged into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the fall was accidental or intentional. Reports indicate she was in the water for approximately 45 minutes before being rescued.
Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas at Port Canaveral, Florida. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Upon realizing the passenger was overboard, the Mariner of the Seas crew immediately alerted authorities and initiated a search. The woman was eventually recovered and brought back onboard. The ship's medical team provided immediate care, and thankfully, she was reported to be in good health.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed receiving a report of the incident from the Mariner of the Seas at approximately 5:44 p.m. Sunday. They noted the ship's location at the time of the incident was about 27 nautical miles south of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas departing Port Canaveral. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Mariner of the Seas embarked on its eight-day southern Caribbean journey from Port Canaveral, Florida, on June 23 and is scheduled to return on July 1. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with cruise travel. While advancements in passenger safety have been made, statistics from the Cruise Lines International Association reveal an average of 19 people fall overboard annually, with a low survival rate.
