March 13 (UPI) -- A Port Canaveral harbor pilot and a Brevard County Sheriff's Office marine unit in Florida saved two people who fell off a jet ski from an oncoming Carnival Cruise Line ship.
The Canaveral Pilots Association said Port Canaveral Harbor Pilot Capt. Doug Brown was navigating Carnival's 130,000-ton Magic ship out of the port when he saw two women on a jet ski within the navigation channel Saturday afternoon. Brown alerted Brevard County Sheriff's Deputy Taner Primmer, who was patrolling the area in a boat to support cruise ship departures.
The pilots association said when Primmer neared the jet ski, one of the women fell off the watercraft. When she attempted to reboard, the jet ski flipped over and "both boaters ended up in the water in extremely close proximity to the bow of the ship now bearing down on their position."
Brown and Carnival Magic's captain and bridge team maneuvered the ship away from the Primmer and the two women while Primmer pulled both women aboard his patrol boat to move "out of harm's way."
"Great job to Capt. Brown, the Captain and bridge team of the Carnival Magic, and Deputy Primmer for their outstanding actions that resulted in the rescue of these boaters," the Canaveral Pilots Association said in a statement.
A passenger on the cruise ship captured the rescue on video.
