Cruise Ship Crewman Dives Into Sea to Rescue Woman Who Had Fallen Overboard

An Irish woman who fell from a cruise ship into the Mediterranean Sea was rescued by a fast-acting crew member who dived in to save her.

The woman was on the MSC Seaview in the Italian port city of Genoa when she "chose of her own will" to jump overboard on the evening of June 17.

A member of staff, who was also an experienced sailor, dived in after the woman and was able to save her, reported the Independent.ie.

"In order to rescue the guest, a crew member from the ship jumped in the water to provide immediate assistance," Robin Roothans, spokesperson for MSC Cruises, the company who own the ship, confirmed to Newsweek.

"The passenger was recovered in minutes and our medical staff provided first medical care on board. Shortly after, the passenger was taken ashore for further medical attention."

The woman, who has not been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. She was joined by her family, who were on board the vessel with her at the time.

"MSC Cruises wishes to commend the crew member and shipboard teams that were involved in the salvage action and who acted in the quickest and most effective way, securing the safety of the concerned passenger," Roothans added. "Also, we wish to thank the Coast Guard and local law enforcement for their support."

Following the incident, the cruise liner continued its journey and arrived at the Italian coastal city of La Spezia on the morning of June 18.

The MSC Seaview weighs around 154,000 tonnes and can carry more than 5,000 people onboard.

Earlier this month, MSC Cruises made international news after one of its massive cruise liners crashed into a tourist boat in in Venice.

Four people were injured after the MSC Opera smashed into the boat after losing control on the Guidecca canal, one of the city's main waterways which leads into the popular St Mark's Square.

The incident sparked debate on whether huge cruise ships should be allowed to travel down the canal. The Italian government previously announced plans to ban cruise ships weighing more than 100,000 tonnes or more away from Venice's Grand Canal.

"Today's accident in the port of Venice proves that cruise ships shouldn't be allowed to pass down the Giudecca anymore," Danilo Toninelli, the Italian transport minister, said at the time.

"After many years of inertia, we are finally close to a solution to protect both the lagoon and tourism."