Alive And Well After 38 Hours Overboard!

We’ve recently seen a man running down a runway, bags in hand literally trying to catch his flight,  and also a cruise passenger who got stranded in an Alaskan forest – and survived. Well we have another story, luckily with a happy ending, of another cruise passenger who got herself into another sticky situation but thankfully managed somehow to survive.

A Chinese cruise passenger from Shanghai, China, who was sailing with her parents on Royal Caribbean International’s 3,100-passenger Mariner of the Seas, fell overboard into the Pacific Ocean a few days ago. Incredibly 32-year-old Wang Si was rescued after spending 38 hours in the ocean – 38 hours!

According to media reports from the People’s Daily China, Si, a resident of Shanghai, accidentally fell overboard while admiring the scenery from Deck 4. She apparently leaned too far over the railing and fell into the ocean. Si went into the water at about 9 p.m. on August 10. Her parents reported her missing to the ship’s crew after she failed to return from a walk.

​The cruise line’s CCTV footage revealed that she’d fallen overboard into the sea from a height of about 90-plus feet, and just being out for an evening stroll she wasn’t wearing a life jacket.

The Chinese Coast Guard was alerted as the ship continued to Shanghai, its turnaround port. There, police boarded and questioned the ship’s crew as well as reviewed the video of her fall. Relatives were told that the outcome was likely not going to be positive. But, the story had an unexpected twist.

Si, who learned to swim in kindergarten, was apparently a very good swimmer. After falling into the ocean, she actually tried to swim and “catch” the cruise ship but eventually stopped when she realized it wouldn’t be possible. So for 38 hours she swam, treaded water and floated, even getting a bit of sleep. She finally was rescued as she attracted the attention of a fishing boat’s crew.

When pulled aboard the fishing boat, she was exhausted and suffering from sunburn and jellyfish stings but otherwise, amazingly in good condition! Now I don’t know if you’ve ever tried catching a little sleep while swimming (no, I haven’t either!) but I’m sure it can’t be easy!

An incredible story of the strength of the human spirit I’m sure you’ll agree.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Bye for now.