A British air hostess Kay Longstaff, 46-years-old fell into the Adriatic Sea from the Norwegian Star ship which was sailing to Venice from port of Vargarola near Pula, Croatia. She fell from the seventh deck, 60 miles off the Croatian coast as it headed towards Venice on Saturday. MailOnline revealed yesterday that she plunged into the water after spending the evening drinking and left her handbag and passport on board. She was in the water for 10 hours and said that her yoga fitness and singing helped her stay alive.

Her disappearance at about midnight local time on Saturday triggered a frantic search by the crew after the alarm was raised. The ship doubled back to the sea where she was thought to be and carried at least four passes in its search, before a coastguard cutter and Pilatus PC-9 spotter plane joined the hunt and found her at about noon yesterday. Speaking after her miraculous rescue, Kay said, “I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star and was in the water for 10 hours. Then these wonderful guys rescued me.”

Wearing just denim shorts and a top, Kay was plucked from the 20C water by coastguards and was taken onboard a rescue boat. She was treated by medics and taken to the hospital in Pula where she was kept for monitoring by doctors. An unnamed rescuer 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.” The rescue ship’s captain, Lovro Oreskovic, said the woman was exhausted, adding: “We were extremely happy for saving a human life.”

David Radas, a spokesman for the Croatian ministry of maritime affairs told the Sun that by checking CCTV rescuers knew the exact moment Longstaff fell in the water. A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said: “We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in stable condition and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment. 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 circumstances of the incident are being investigated and the British embassy in Croatia has been informed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2018 04:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).