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'Just one of those Thanksgiving miracles': Man believed to have been in waters for 15 hrs rescued by US Coast Guard

'He was able to identify his name, confirmed that he was the individual that fell overboard,' said Lt Seth Gross

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: The passenger who allegedly fell from the Carnival ship Valor on Thursday, November 24, has been rescued by the Coast Guard and a neighboring vessel. The report was confirmed by US Coast Guard, which believes that the man may have been in the water for close to 15 hours. "We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water," said Matt Lupoli, Carnival's senior manager of public relations.

The missing man who wasn’t identified was last seen on Wednesday night, November 23 around 11 pm, reported CNN. The ship sailed in the Gulf of Mexico from New Orleans, Louisiana while moving towards Cozumel, Mexico. US Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves informed that the passenger "was found responsive at the time of rescue and was transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel at New Orleans Lakefront Airport." Lt Seth Gross, a search and rescue coordinator for the Coast Guard suggested that the man could have been in the water for up to 15 hours, and said, "The absolute longest that I've heard about — and just one of those Thanksgiving miracles.”

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"He was able to identify his name, confirmed that he was the individual that fell overboard," added Gross. "He was showing signs of hypothermia, shock, dehydration" but could walk and communicate. He "gave no really no clear indication of why he fell overboard or what time specifically." As per the report, the man’s sister informed the staff of him going missing around noon on Thursday, and the Coast Guard was alerted to the potential of a person overboard at around 2.30 pm, as the ship Valor turned back to assist in the search. The man was spotted by a mariner and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, and "hoisted the man onto the helicopter," said Coast Guard Lt Phillip VanderWeit in a statement before multiple crew members searched him, reports People.

Passenger Mike Anderson told the outlet that the ship's guests were informed about there would be a delay in arriving in Mexico, “[people] noticed security starting to search the boat with a photo of the missing (passenger) in their phones." Anderson added, “At around 2 p.m., a final check-in request was issued.”

Soon, a public address announcement was made informing the members that a man had gone overboard but the ship had been released from the search and was now heading towards its course for Cozumel.