A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador was pulled from the Ionian Sea after almost a full day adrift approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos Island, Greece, early on October 10. The Hellenic Coast Guard located the woman following a large-scale search involving two Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter, merchant ships, and the cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas itself. A merchant crew spotted the flashing light on the lifebelt she wore, enabling the rescue by a Coast Guard patrol vessel where she was conscious and received first aid.
Cruise Ship and Search Operation Details
The woman fell overboard from the Bahamas-flagged Odyssey of
the Seas, a Quantum Ultra class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International with a capacity of roughly 4,200 passengers. The incident occurred during the voyage from Mykonos toward Naples. The search required Odyssey of the Seas to circle the area for several hours, which resulted in the cancellation of its scheduled Naples stop. The ship subsequently adjusted its itinerary, finishing its journey at the port of Civitavecchia/Rome to compensate for lost time.
Passenger Condition and Medical Follow-Up
After rescue, the woman was transported to Katakolon port in western Peloponnese and then transferred to a hospital in Pyrgos for medical observation and further tests. A
Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed she had been in the sea for about 20 hours and reported to rescuers that she jumped from the ship because she wanted to disembark. The Coast Guard issued a statement noting the woman was taken to hospital “for medical observation and to undergo medical tests.”
Unknown Circumstances of the Incident
Authorities have not clarified the precise circumstances behind the woman entering the water or how she obtained the lifebelt. The local prosecutor has ordered a psychiatric evaluation after hospital admission. The facts established so far are based on her own report of choosing to jump, with no further official conclusions
released as of the rescue announcement.
