# Woman falls off cruise ship, treads water for 10 hours, and is found & rescued **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923 "2018-08-20T17:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/21 "2018-08-20T22:34:52Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I just came back from a cruise in that very area, and I was quite surprised at how well I floated in that area- once I was on my back, I didn’t have to do anything except stay still to float. Moreso than other oceans I’ve been in. The Adriatic has an average salinity of 37-38 parts per thousand, compared to 35 ppt for average ocean water, so it would indeed be easier to float than most places. (As an almost closed basin with high solar radiation, the Mediterranean in general gets saltier than other ocean water.) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/22 "2018-08-20T22:40:22Z")
If I may I’d like to interrupt this thread for a brief musical interlude. [link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WWVBnBMnqc) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/23 "2018-08-20T22:43:41Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Can you cite a report that says she was not sober? The link in the OP makes no mention of drunkenness? Yes, it does. > [@](#): > > Officials haven’t confirmed details about how Longstaff ended up falling from the ship. The Sun, a British tabloid, reports alcohol and an argument with her partner might have played a role. In any event, it hardly seems reckless to speculate that alcohol might be involved in an accident on a cruise ship. And that much more so with Brits, given the prominent role of alcohol in British social life. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/24 "2018-08-20T23:06:08Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > There’s weresharks in those waters. Sharknado 7??? ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/25 "2018-08-20T23:11:55Z")
I am short on details, but nobody reported "man/woman Overboard? Seems strange to me unless the rear deck was totally clear of passengers and safety crew. That said, I have done some survival/safety training and to tread water for 10 hours as the reports say is way beyond remarkable. Most people would be fish-bait by then. It is amazing how the survival instinct kicks in. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/26 "2018-08-21T03:17:21Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > I am short on details, but nobody reported "man/woman Overboard? > > Seems strange to me unless the rear deck was totally clear of passengers and safety crew. That said, I have done some survival/safety training and to tread water for 10 hours as the reports say is way beyond remarkable. Most people would be fish-bait by then. It is amazing how the survival instinct kicks in. Yes they did. I saw a piece on the national news tonight about it. They turned the ship around and did a loop looking for her (which I’m sure is no easy feat in a big cruise liner) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/27 "2018-08-21T11:21:33Z")
Reminds me of an old Hollywood Squares question: Peter Marshall: “Paul, when a man falls off a ship you shout ‘Man Overboard!’. What do you say when a woman falls off a ship?” Paul Lynde: “Full Speed Ahead!” BTW as I recall, the answer was that you also shout “Man Overboard!” Amazing survival story. That was quite a height she fell from, seems like enough where it could have knocked her out or otherwise incapacitate her. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/28 "2018-08-21T12:07:02Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > It’s possible she jumped or was pushed. She also could have been shit-faced and sitting on the railing, and fell. The details are sketchy and will hopefully be fleshed out in the coming days. Come, come, this has ‘Classic Scene from Titanic’ written all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/29 "2018-08-21T12:42:52Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Yes they did. I saw a piece on the national news tonight about it. They turned the ship around and did a loop looking for her (which I’m sure is no easy feat in a big cruise liner) As I understand it, turning the ship around and searching for a person who went overboard has a really low success rate, even when it’s done immediately after they go over - backtracking and finding someone many hours after they went overboard is truly remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/30 "2018-08-21T13:22:31Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > As I understand it, turning the ship around and searching for a person who went overboard has a really low success rate, even when it’s done immediately after they go over - backtracking and finding someone many hours after they went overboard is truly remarkable. Yes, tuning the ship around takes time. They don’t have a launch they can drop quickly over the side? Aren’t modern lifeboat powered? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/31 "2018-08-21T13:27:53Z")
Longstaff was saved by the Croatian Coast Guard, and not by the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship she had been sailing on (and had fallen from). She fell from the ship at about 2345 hrs local time Saturday night. The Norwegian Star turned around and searched for her, unsuccessfully. At about 0600 Sunday, other passengers aboard the Norwegian Star were informed their arrival to Venice would be delayed because they were participating in a rescue operation. Still no details about how she went overboard but, **SanVito** , it’s safe to say that Jack Dawson (he of the Chippewa Falls Dawson family) was not there to save her. And I doubt a large diamond was involved. Alcohol, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/32 "2018-08-21T13:41:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Daniel Punch who works on the cruise ship, wrote on Facebook, according to Daily Mail, “She didn’t fall, she jumped. It was on my ship. I spoke [to her] throughout the whole week. She was arguing with her fella the whole time.” The post is no longer visible on Punch’s page. > **[Kay Longstaff: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know](https://heavy.com/news/2018/08/kay-longstaff/)** > > Kay Longstaff is a British flight attendant who survived after going overboard from a Norwegian cruise ship and spending 10 hours in the Adriatic Sea. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/33 "2018-08-21T14:16:50Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > At the very least she will have been trained to understand what a dangerous situation she was in and that will have kicked in and sobered her up quickly. That’s not how sobering up works. You just have to wait for your liver to metabolize the alcohol, and a dangerous situation doesn’t make that suddenly happen. Only in movies do people instantly sober up on shocking news or a stressful situation. With all the mention of cameras and knowing when she went off and what she was doing just before, how do they not know exactly how she went overboard? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/34 "2018-08-21T14:25:26Z")
Approx 2345. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/35 "2018-08-21T14:55:10Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Approx 2345. Not when, how (i.e., jumped vs. fell vs. pushed). ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/36 "2018-08-21T15:08:58Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > With all the mention of cameras and knowing when she went off and what she was doing just before, how do they not know exactly how she went overboard? No doubt they do have footage - and it’s in the hands of their lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/37 "2018-08-21T22:38:42Z")
Does anyone know if she had breast implants? I’ve heard that those make surprisingly good flotation devices. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/38 "2018-08-22T11:34:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Does anyone know if she had breast implants? I’ve heard that those make surprisingly good flotation devices. Apparently the real ones don’t keep you afloat, as Carol Wayne could have attested. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/39 "2018-08-22T13:15:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Yes, tuning the ship around takes time. They don’t have a launch they can drop quickly over the side? Aren’t modern lifeboat powered? Some ships have a launch that can be lowered for rescue, but as I understand it, people alone in the middle of the ocean are just notoriously hard to spot - only your head is sticking up above the water, and once you’re a few hundred feet away, you’re as good as invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923/40 "2018-08-22T22:04:45Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That’s not how sobering up works. You just have to wait for your liver to metabolize the alcohol, and a dangerous situation doesn’t make that suddenly happen. Only in movies do people instantly sober up on shocking news or a stressful situation. So a burst of adrenaline into the blood does nothing to affect the person? I appreciate the blood alcohol level of a person might not literally change but surely their experience is altered. That might not mean sobering up in a medical sense, but in a practical sense it surely must? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-falls-off-cruise-ship-treads-water-for-10-hours-and-is-found-rescued/819923.md?page=3)