Woman treaded water for 10 hours after falling from ship, sang to stay alive until rescue

Ashley May | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Woman treaded water for 10 hours after falling off cruise ship A 46-year old British woman survived 10 hours in the sea after falling from a Norwegian Star cruise ship near the coast of Croatia. She sang to keep herself awake.

A passenger who fell off a cruise ship near the coast of Croatia treaded water for 10 hours before her rescue.

The 46-year-old British woman, Kay Longstaff, fell off a Norwegian Cruise Line ship around midnight Saturday, plunging into the Adriatic Sea. She told Croatian news channel HRT that she was sitting at the back of the deck before the fall. She was roughly 60 miles away from the Croatian coast.

Longstaff floated and sang to stay awake, rescuers said. The Croatian Coast Guard launched an air and sea search early Sunday morning.

She was rescued by the Croatian coast guard 10 hours after her fall on Sunday and taken to a hospital in the town of Pula. Longstaff is in stable condition, and is being treated in Croatia, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement Monday afternoon. The cruise company said it is contact with Longstaff and is cooperating with authorities investigating what happened.

"We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family," said Christine Da Silva, spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Lovro Oreskovic, who was involved in the rescue, told the Glas Istre portal it was a "miracle" Longstaff survived, noting her physical fitness. Oreskovic said search crews were doubtful they'd find her alive.

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.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets