The US Coast Guard says a passenger who went overboard from a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico was rescued on Thanksgiving after likely being in the water for 15 hours. The 28-year-old man was reported missing at noon Thursday while the vessel, the Carnival Valor, was heading to Cozumel, Mexico.

According to Carnival Cruise Line, the man was with his sister at a bar on Carnival Valor Wednesday at 11 p.m. and went to use the restroom. His sister reported him missing the next day after the man did not return to his stateroom.

A passenger on board the ship told the DailyMail that she sat next to the missing man’s family at breakfast the morning after he vanished. She said the The family talked about how the man didn’t return to his room that night.

She said that his family were talking about how “he kept getting in trouble for vaping in non-designated smoke areas.”

The Coast Guard launched search and rescue crews Thursday afternoon and alerted nearby ships to be watchful.

Coast Guard Lt. Seth Gross said a cargo ship later saw a person in the water about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, and the mouth of the Mississippi River. Gross said the man confirmed he was the missing cruise ship passenger after he was hoisted into a helicopter about 8:25 p.m. Thursday.

“He appeared to be suffering from mild hypothermia, shock, dehydration, but his condition overall appeared stable,” Gross told WWL-TV.

The man was airlifted to New Orleans and is being treated at a hospital.

Gross called the rescue “a miracle especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving.”

In a statement, Carnival said: “We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the US Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water.”

The man’s name has not been released.

 

Today it’s time to discover the various culinary delights in downtown Fort Lauderdale. You’ll get your 10,000 steps in on a walking tour with Craft Food Tours, meeting chefs and small business owners along the way. Take a short break from eating to explore the Shops of Las Olas for distinctive finds, from surf gear at Quiet Storm Surf Shop and premium cigars at Havana Republic Cigar Depot to floral bouquets and gifts at Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar