British Woman Survives 10 Hours in Adriatic Sea After Fall from Cruise Ship

British tourist Kay Longstaff speaks to press in Pula, Croatia, after being rescued from the Adriatic sea, August 19, 2018.ÊPicture taken August 19, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

A British woman was rescued from the Adriatic Sea on Sunday 10 hours after going overboard from a cruise ship.

The woman, a tourist named Kay Longstaff, 46, went overboard from the Norwegian Star cruise ship Saturday night around midnight as the ship was underway in the Adriatic Sea.

She was rescued by the Croatian Coast Guard some 10 hours later and taken to a hospital in Pula in stable condition.

BBC reports that the rescue was launch at about 06:30 local time and search crews were able to narrow down the search area after reviewing CCTV footage from the ship.

Once ashore, Longstaff told reporters that she was sitting on the back deck of the ship when she fell into the water. She credited her physical fitness from yoga for helping her tread water for several hours prior to her rescue, and added that she was “very lucky to be alive.”

Media reports say police are looking into the possibility that Longstaff may have jumped overboard after a drunken argument with her boyfriend. 

A statement from Norwegian Cruise Line said: “We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in stable condition, and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment.”

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