Coast Guard finds man who jumped off ship

updated 9:43 a.m. ET March 16, 2007

MIAMI - Coast Guard crews found a 24-year-old man Friday hours after he reportedly jumped from a cruise ship about 30 miles east of Fort Lauderdale.

The man waved his arms at crews when he was located at about 8:45 a.m., around eight hours after he was reported overboard, Coast Guard Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson said. She said he was airlifted to a hospital, but she didn’t know his condition.

A witness saw the man run through a Carnival Cruise Lines ship cabin window and fall into the water, Coast Guard Petty Officer Dana Warr said, adding it was unclear if the window was open.

The witness said the man was intoxicated, Warr said.

The man was aboard the Carnival Glory, which operates out of Port Canaveral east of Orlando, according to the cruise company’s Web site.

After the cruise ship alerted authorities at 12:45 a.m., it stayed in the area to assist with the search, Warr said.

“The time that they did spend was appreciated,” Warr said.

Warr said that ship and another cruise that assisted in the search have since left the area.

Carnival spokesman Tim Gallagher confirmed the Coast Guard report but said no additional details were immediately available.

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