Yes I agree the “50 foot fall alone is enough to kill you. Then, there is the tremendous cavitation from propwash “

I know from boating in the Great Lakes you do not want to get near the freighters in the shipping channels—they will suck you right under.  That might be a reason so few survivors are found.

You are correct, and I agree. The 50 foot fall alone is enough to kill you. Then, there is the tremendous cavitation from propwash and the sheer shock of what just happened after you realize you are no longer safe aboard that huge ship that seems to be getting smaller and smaller. I just wonder what goes through these peoples minds before, during and after they do this.

Razorsharp, I did mention “doing something they were not supposed to be doing”.

While it does happen, it is rare that there is a survivor.

Goneisland2,
There have been other cases where people have gone overboard on a cruise ship and have lived to tell the tale… Not too long ago, a couple in their mid 20’s BOTH fell overboard and were later rescued. They specifically requested that absolutely NO details of how they fell overboard were to be released. So, whatever they were doing was probably really embarrasing, really stupid, or really illegal…or a combo of all three.
  There was also another incident not too long ago where a middle aged man fell overboard and was also later rescued. His excuse for falling overboard? He said “his medication did not mix well with alcohol.” Some people simply cannot drink socially. They HAVE to go all out, and sadly, sometimes their indiscretion is fatal.
  Either way, it is almost always the victims fault for doing something that they had no business doing. As I said before, you just simply don’t fall overboard, the guardrails are designed to prevent that…even slipping underneath would be very difficult…unless you were TRYING.

news bulletin: you cant dine and dash while the vessel is out to sea. the food is free anyway. how big was that bar tab you were trying to get out of paying?

I am pretty sure the reason that they do not comment on it is because they know what they did was stupid. They would be too embarrassed to tell the media and have everyone knowing how they fell.

I am always suspicious over these overboard cases.  I don’t understand how someone could just fall overboard, what with the railings about 40-44 inches tall.

I think people had to have been pushed, doing something they were not supposed to be doing or have severe clinical depression that they want to end their lives.  I would really like to know why this guy went overboard.  Seems like he is the only one of these cases that there has been a survivor and he needs to talk and we need to know.

I agree with you razorsharp.  I have been on a cruise - The Holiday - and I find it to not be so easy to fall overboard.  If someone was sitting on the rails they might fall over.  Why in the world someone would sit on the rails.

Been a lot of these here lately!

I just simply do not understand how someone can fall overboard on one of these ships…unless they were doing something that is not permitted…like sitting on top of the rails. I have been on two different cruise ships, and actually took the time to examine this type of scenario. (because I am just that kind of person) But, honestly, I don’t think you could just slip underneath or fall over the rail unless you were doing something that you shouldn’t have been doing…or someone threw you overboard…just my opinion.