Cruise ship pianist rescued from sea after nine hours in Pacific Ocean

Notably, a cruise ship pianist was discovered treading water around 20 miles (32km) off the Californian coast after falling overboard, according to US media reports.

Key points

• "It was approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore, pretty much in the middle of the ocean, " Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda informed CBS.
• This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water's 76 degrees, Norton remarked.
• The developing El Niño climate phenomenon is now the strongest on record, according to scientists monitoring the Pacific, with ocean temperatures regarding 3.05C above average.
• Stop the boat; let's obtain all of our lines in, Grant Garrett was quoted as saying, recalling the moment he and Sean Norton spotted him.
• The fishermen say the man identified himself as a pianist on a 14-deck cruise ship called the Ovation of the Seas.

Two fishermen discovered the Royal Caribbean employee near Catalina Island on Friday and authorities believe he may have been in the Pacific Ocean for nine hours, according to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner.

"I'm like, 'Yeah, it's a human being. Stop the boat; let's obtain all of our lines in, " Grant Garrett was quoted as saying, recalling the moment he and Sean Norton spotted him.

In practice, the man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to hospital in a stable condition, the US Coast Guard informed the BBC, adding it was investigating the incident.

For context, the fishermen say the man identified himself as a pianist on a 14-deck cruise ship called the Ovation of the Seas.

"The only thing he remarked to me was, 'Thank you. I thought I was gonna die, '" Norton remarked.

For context, the Coast Guard remarked in an official note it had received a report from "a Good Samaritan who recovered a conscious individual from the water".

In practice, the person was handed over to Newport Beach Lifeguards. This person confirmed he was an employee of the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, it remarked.

Lifeguard authorities believe he may have fallen overboard at around 02: 30, concerning nine hours before he was discovered.

"It was approximately 15 to 20 miles offshore, pretty much in the middle of the ocean, " Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda informed CBS. Norton credited the man's survival to unusually warm ocean temperatures.

"You have this crazy super El Niño year. This guy was in the water for probably 10 hours, but the water's 76 degrees, " Norton remarked. It equates to concerning 24C. "A different year, no way he makes it, " Norton remarked.

Notably, the developing El Niño climate phenomenon is now the strongest on record, according to scientists monitoring the Pacific, with ocean temperatures regarding 3.05C above average.

In an official note to the BBC, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson remarked: We are providing backing and assistance to our crew member during this tough time.

"To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share."

Taken together, the developments around cruise ship pianist rescued from sea after nine hours in Pacific Ocean point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.