Everyone is talking about 46-year-old British woman Kay Longstaff who fell from a cruise ship during her holiday in the Adriatic and spent 10 hours at sea before being rescued.
Using her case, BBC has created a short list of tips that may help in a similar situation.
Water Temperature
The British woman was fortunate that the water current did not pull her under the ship, and it was also a fortunate circumstance that the sea was warm.
A person can survive one hour in water at a temperature of 5 degrees, two hours at 10 degrees, and six in water warmer than 15 degrees Celsius, but when the water is warmer than 20 degrees, it is possible to survive about 25 hours.
People can experience shock if the water is too cold, then they cannot control their breathing and may drown. Additionally, as body temperature drops, they may become fatigued, confused, or disoriented.
Try to Float
Survival instructions created for Irish fishermen state that the best way to slow down body cooling is to float with knees raised to the chest.
Clothing and footwear help with floating as they retain air, so it is best not to move around too much.
It is also good to look for some floating object that can provide support in the water.
It is Important to Be Found
As the time for survival in water is limited, it is important for rescuers to find the drowning person as soon as possible. However, all rescuers emphasize that it is very difficult to see a head in the sea, especially at night.
Women Have an Advantage
Women have more body fat than men, about 10 percent, which helps retain body heat and aids in floating.
Clear Head
In a situation where a person falls from a boat, it is essential to keep a cool head and not panic. However, most people, due to panic and fear, do nothing to help themselves in trouble.
Alcohol Also Plays a Role
Rescuers warn to avoid the sea while intoxicated as alcohol affects reactions and swimming ability, especially the ability to make rational decisions.
Famous Cases: Who Survived the Longest at Sea?
Jose Salvador Alvarenga from El Salvador sailed for 440 days across the Pacific before being found in the Marshall Islands.
Poon Lim, a Chinese sailor from World War II, set the record for the longest survival on a raft – he spent 133 days alone in the Atlantic.
Mexican shark hunter Jesus Vidana and his crew spent 270 days sailing the Pacific before being rescued by a Taiwanese tuna boat near the Marshall Islands.
American adventurer Steven Callahan survived 76 days on a raft in the Atlantic in 1982 after a whale collided with his boat Napoleon Solo.
