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British air hostess credits yoga and SINGING for surviving 10 hours in the sea after falling off cruise liner

<em>Kay Longstaff credited yoga to helping her stay alive for 10 hours in the sea</em>
Kay Longstaff credited yoga to helping her stay alive for 10 hours in the sea

A British woman has credited yoga and singing for helping her survive for 10 hours in the sea after falling off a cruise ship.

Air hostess Kay Longstaff was pulled from the Adriatic Sea on Sunday morning, having fallen from the back of the Norwegian Star as it sailed 60 miles off the Croatian coast on Saturday.

The 46-year-old said she felt ‘very lucky’ to have survived the ordeal and thanked her ‘wonderful’ rescuers as she was taken to a hospital in the Croatian town of Pula.

<em>Ms Longstaff being rescued after her ordeal (MORH)</em>
Ms Longstaff being rescued after her ordeal (MORH)

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.’

Ms Longstaff reportedly fell from an aft deck of the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel as it sailed for Venice late on Sunday night.

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A fellow passenger, who asked not to be named, said ship staff had sealed off the area where she is said to have fallen with metal barriers.

He told the Daily Mail: ’We were told she had left her handbag, which contained her passport, on the deck before falling, and that the incident was captured on CCTV.’

<em>The British woman sits with her rescuers after she was pulled from the Adriatic Sea on Sunday (MORH)</em>
The British woman sits with her rescuers after she was pulled from the Adriatic Sea on Sunday (MORH)

Ms Longstaff told Croatian news channel HRT: ‘I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star and I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me. I am very lucky to be alive.’

David Radas, Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs spokesman, said that by checking CCTV rescuers knew the exact moment Ms Longstaff fell in the water.

He told The Sun: ‘Because they knew the time, they were able to know the exact position of the ship.’

<em>Ms Longstaff fell off a Norwegian Cruise Line ship (Rex/stock photo)</em>
Ms Longstaff fell off a Norwegian Cruise Line ship (Rex/stock photo)

Lovro Oreskovic, captain of the Cavtat rescue ship, said they were ‘extremely happy for saving a human life’.

Norwegian Cruise Line said the ship had been delayed amid the search and rescue operation.

The spokeswoman said: ‘We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family.’

It is understood the UK Foreign Office has been in contact with both the cruise line and Croatian port authorities since the rescue.