Cuban refugees rescued in the middle of the ocean by cruise ship with Arizona family on board

An Arizona couple obtained fairly an journey whereas on a Caribbean cruise after their ship ran throughout a rickety previous boat crammed with Cuban refugees.

That is when the passengers and crew began saving lives in between Key West and Cuba, on their technique to a cease within the Bahamas.

The ship’s captain observed the tiny boat battling 6-foot swells.

Wealthy King, from Arizona, defined the entire ordeal.

“The captain of the ship got here on the PA and introduced that there was a small vessel, in keeping with him, that they noticed, and appeared prefer it was signaling for misery,” King mentioned.

Miles from any shore, he says the captain on his Royal Caribbean ship noticed a small speck within the ocean, the refugees on their boat, and rotated to assist.

“They have been taking over water. They mentioned that their ship engine had damaged down. They have been out on the seas floating round for six days, they usually lastly obtained assist from us,” King mentioned.

Seems, he says there have been 22 Cubans in what appeared like a do-it-yourself boat fleeing their nation on a raft.

“This captain was fairly clear to be trustworthy with you, as a result of he got here again on, he advised us that he obtained clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard to go forward and method the vessel and begin eradicating the those who have been on there,” King mentioned.

The refugees have been on board Symphony of the Seas with all its passengers for about an hour earlier than King says the Coast Guard picked them up.

“The entire crew and all 5,000 passengers that have been up high watching this unfold have been all cheering and have been simply type of glad to see individuals being rescued,” he mentioned.

Whereas the passengers have been excited to proceed their trip within the Bahamas, for King, it was meals for thought.

“What number of are literally making an attempt to flee Cuba on a makeshift craft like that, that do not even make it, that no one is aware of about?” he questioned.

FOX 10 reached out to the Coast Guard to search out out what occurred to these 22 individuals, and to date, we’ve got not heard again. We have additionally reached out to Royal Caribbean and haven’t heard again.