British woman who fell from cruise ship survives 10 hours in the sea 'by singing'
Kay Longstaff used technique to stay afloat and keep warm while lost and alone in pitch-black waters
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Your support makes all the difference.Singing in the sea helped a British woman survive for 10 hours after falling overboard from a cruise liner, she has revealed.
Kay Longstaff plunged into the Adriatic 60 miles south of Croatia shortly before midnight on Saturday.
The 46-year-old told was left lost and alone in the pitch-black water until rescuers spotted her at 9.30am on Sunday.
She is said to have told her saviours that yoga fitness and singing helped her stay afloat and keep warm overnight.
An unnamed source told The Sun: "She said the fact that she practices yoga helped her as she was fit. And she said she was singing to not feel cold in the sea overnight."
Air hostess Ms Longstaff reportedly fell from an aft deck of the Norwegian Star cruise liner as it sailed for Venice from the town of Pula. She was wearing only denim shorts and a top at the time.
She told Croatian news channel HRT: " I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me…I am very lucky to be alive.”
David Radas, spokesman for the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, said that by checking CCTV rescuers knew the exact moment Ms Longstaff fell in the water. "Because they knew the time, they were able to know the exact position of the ship," he explained.
Lovro Oreskovic, captain of the rescue ship, Cavtat, said they were "extremely happy for saving a human life".
A spokeswoman for Norwegian Cruise Line, which owns the Norwegian Star, said the ship had been delayed amid the search and rescue operation.
She said: “A report was made that a guest had gone overboard while the ship was returning to Venice. As soon as the report was made the ship began a search and notified the appropriate authorities.”
She added: "We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family. “The ship will be delayed on her return to Venice.”
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