44-year-old tourist falls from cruise ship near Zakynthos, found alive after around 12 hours

A 44-year-old tourist from El Salvador was found alive after nearly 12 hours in the waters of the Ionian Sea, following her fall from a cruise ship. Her survival was made possible by the intervention of the Greek Coast Guard and extraordinary good fortune.

The incident occurred around 72 nautical miles northwest of the island of Zakynthos. The Bahamas-flagged cruise ship on which the woman was traveling issued an SOS signal last night after the passenger had fallen into the sea.

Following the alert, a search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched. However, the darkness of the night made it extremely difficult to locate her, reports Top Channel correspondent Artur Bibe.

Shortly before daybreak, Greek Coast Guard teams, working together with the cargo ship MSC Rozella, which had joined the search, managed to find the 44-year-old woman alive.

Helicopters and other vessels sailing in the area also took part in the operation.

After being rescued, the woman was taken to hospital showing signs of hypothermia, having spent around 12 hours in the waters of the Ionian Sea. Meanwhile, the authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of her fall into the sea.

The rescue of the 44-year-old woman in complete darkness, more than 70 nautical miles from the coast, is being considered an extraordinary stroke of luck and a success for the search-and-rescue operation.

The woman said she would be grateful to the rescuers who brought her out of the waters of the Ionian Sea alive for the rest of her life.