How did Kay Longstaff survive for ten hours in the sea?
Rescuers say the British air hostess, who is 46, was exhausted after they pulled her from the Adriatic
A British woman who spent ten hours in the sea after falling off a cruise ship has claimed that “yoga fitness and singing” helped her survive in the water.
Air stewardess Kay Longstaff fell off the Norwegian Star cruise ship late on Saturday night after “spending the evening drinking”, the Daily Mail reports. The ship was sailing to Venice from the port of Vargarola in Croatia.
The forty-six-year-old, who was wearing just denim shorts and a top, is thought to have plunged overboard around 60 miles south of Pula in Croatia.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
She told reporters she was “very lucky to be alive” after being rescued by a Croatian coastguard patrol boat. She said: “I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me.”
Lovro Oreskovic, the rescue boat’s captain, said Longstaff was “exhausted” when they found her and that crew members were “extremely happy for saving a human life”.
The air hostess was taken to a hospital in Pula for checks.
Norwegian Cruise Line, the firm that owns the cruise vessel, said in a statement: “We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in [a] stable condition and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment.”
Oceanic survival expert Mike Tipton told The Sun that Longstaff was “lucky to have plunged into warm water”.
“It would have been a pretty frightening experience but everything that needed to be in place for her to survive was in place. It was warm water and it was flat, calm water.
“Being female she is going to have about ten per cent more body fat than a man so she is going to be able to float.
“The luckiest thing was they were able to find her. It really would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published