A UK woman who survived 10 hours lost in the Adriatic Sea has been accused of lying about how it happened.
Kay Longstaff, 46, was on board the Norwegian Star cruise ship bound for Venice on Saurday night (local time). Approximately 100km off the coast of Croatia, she says she fell from the ship's back deck into the water.
Her disappearance seemed to go unnoticed for some time, as the ship did not raise the alarm until 6:30am the next morning. The coastguard, civilian vessels and an aircraft joined the search, and Ms Longstaff was located at about 9:40am and rescued by a patrol boat.
She was found 1.3km away from the spot she fell in, Croatian media have reported.
She told local new channel HRT that she fell off the deck and was "lucky to be alive", and has credited her survival to being fit from yoga and singing to keep off the cold. She was also helped by warm summer seas and minimal wind.
But her miraculous tale has been marred by an accusation of dishonesty. Bizarrely, the cruise company chief executive's mother has told The Daily Telegraph that all is not as it seems.
"She didn't fall off," Andrew Stuart's mother was quoted as saying. "She jumped. This has cost Norwegian Cruise Line $600,000. This stupid woman."
She says her son told her there was no way Ms Longstaff could have accidentally fallen from the deck.
"You would have to take steps to climb over the railings. He said she jumped in the water."
Eddie Palladino, a fellow passenger on the Norwegian Star, told The Mirror that the captain referred to Ms Longstaff as a "jumper" when he made an announcement via the ship's intercom.
In the days since her rescue, witnesses have alleged that they saw Ms Longstaff arguing with her boyfriend in the hours before she fell from the ship.
A source told The Sun that local police believe no foul play was involved.
Newshub.
