The Unthinkable: Why It's So Hard to Save Someone Who Falls Overboard on a Cruise Ship

The Dangers of Open Water: The open ocean is a dangerous place. There are strong currents, large waves, and sharks.

Modern cruise ships are massive, and the height between the decks and the water is significant. When a person falls from a cruise ship, they are likely to sustain serious injuries from hitting the water. The impact can be like hitting concrete, and can cause pelvic fractures, broken legs, spinal injuries, and ruptured internal organs.