GALVESTON, Texas, March 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two cruise ship passengers in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday after the pair accidentally went overboard more than four hours earlier.
The maritime rescue in the Gulf of Mexico 150 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas, was confirmed by Coast Guard officials, and one passenger on board Princess Cruises' Grand Princess told CNN that the pair is lucky to be alive.
"It's amazing these two are alive and well," said fellow passenger Kevin Shaw.
The man and woman, both in their early 20s, reportedly had fallen 50 to 60 feet to the sea from a cabin balcony hours after the ship had left Galveston and were in the water about four hours before being rescued.
Shaw told CNN that the couple was reported missing by friends and were ultimately returned to the ship to recuperate from their harrowing ordeal.
CNN said that the ship was bound for Mexico on a 7-day western Caribbean cruise and remained anchored nearby while the Coast Guard conducted its rescue efforts.
