Fishermen rescue cruise ship pianist who may have spent nine hours in the Pacific
The Coast Guard is investigating how the Royal Caribbean crew member, found nearly 20 miles off California, went overboard.
Two Newport Beach fishermen, Sean Norton and Grant Garrett, pulled a Royal Caribbean cruise ship pianist out of the Pacific Ocean on Friday. They were heading home after fishing for marlin near Catalina Island. Around noon, their boat's captain spotted the man treading water, nearly 20 miles offshore.
Officials believe he may have been in the water for about nine hours. He told the fishermen he was a pianist on the 14-deck Ovation of the Seas. His name has not been released.
Newport Beach lifeguards answered an emergency call from the fishermen. He was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, according to the Coast Guard as cited by CBS. The Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard.
Norton said he thought the unusually warm water, 76 degrees, helped the man live. He recalled the man saying, "Thank you. I thought I was gonna die."
Royal Caribbean said it is supporting its crew member and has no more details to share, to respect his privacy.
- nearly 20 miles (32km)distance offshore where the pianist was foundThe Guardian
- approximately nine hourstime officials believe he may have been in the waterThe Guardian
- 76 degreeswater temperature, according to fisherman Sean NortonThe Guardian
Three sides of the story
11 news outlets reported this
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Liberal5 outlets
The rescue and fishermen's account of survival
The Guardian opens with the pianist expected to survive after the fishermen found him "nearly 20 miles (32km) offshore," and notes the Coast Guard is investigating how he went overboard. The Independent leads with the employee found treading water and says his current condition is unclear. Both lean on the fishermen's account, quoting Garrett's reaction to spotting a human being and Norton's recollection that the man said he thought he would die.
Both carry Norton's view that a "crazy super El Niño year" and 76-degree water made survival possible. Both quote Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda, relayed from CBS, and the Royal Caribbean statement on supporting its crew member. The Independent adds that it has asked the Coast Guard and the Newport Beach Fire Department for comment.
Center4 outlets
Coast Guard and lifeguard statements on the rescue
BBC News opens with the pianist found about 20 miles off the Californian coast after falling overboard, "according to US media reports," and ties the account to CBS News, its US news partner. It relays a Coast Guard statement saying a "Good Samaritan" recovered a conscious person, who lifeguards confirmed was an employee of the Ovation of the Seas. The Coast Guard told the BBC he was in stable condition and it is investigating.
Lifeguard officials, the BBC says, believe he may have fallen overboard around 02:30. It quotes Garrett, Norton and Yacenda, and adds that scientists describe the El Niño as the strongest on record, with ocean temperatures about 3.05C above average. Royal Caribbean's statement closes the piece.
Conservative2 outlets
Pianist plunges overboard, rescued by passing fishermen
The New York Post headlines the story as a pianist who "plunges overboard" 20 miles off the California coast. Its first lines say he was rescued after nearly nine hours treading water, spotted by two Southern California fishermen.
It sources the account largely to CBS LA, including the captain seeing the man around noon, Norton's quote about the man's thanks, and Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda's description of being in the "middle of the ocean." It says officials believe he may have gone overboard about nine hours before he was found. It closes with the Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson's statement, given to The California Post by email, about supporting the crew member.
- Conservative outlets did not mentionThe Coast Guard is investigating the incident and the man was hospitalized and expected to survive Reported by The Guardian, The Independent, BBC News
- Liberal outlets did not mentionLifeguard officials believe he may have fallen overboard around 02:30 Reported by BBC News
Which side made the stronger case?
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All sources: 12 articles from 11 outlets
Liberal (5)
- ABC News: WATCH: Cruise ship worker rescued by fisherman in Pacific Ocean
- La Opinión: Pescadores rescatan a empleado de crucero que cae al agua en el sur de California
- The Guardian: Cruise ship pianist rescued after nine hours treading water miles from shore
- The Independent: Cruise ship employee found by fishermen treading water 20 miles off the California coast
Center (5)
- BBC News: Cruise ship pianist rescued from sea after nine hours in Pacific Ocean
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: ‘El Niño saved the day’ for cruise ship pianist who spent 9 hours in Pacific Ocean
- The Seattle Times: Cruise ship employee rescued after spending 9 hours in the ocean off Catalina
- The Seattle Times: Cruise ship employee is rescued off Southern California coast
- UPI: Royal Caribbean ship pianist pulled from Pacific by Newport fishermen
Conservative (2)
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