- USCG Lt. Seth Gross characterized the rescue as “a miracle” in an interview with WWL-TV.
- “I will say one of the highlights of my Coast Guard career was calling the family who was onboard the Carnival Valor to let them know their son was alive and en route to additional medical care,” Gross said. “Truly just a miracle especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving where it’s predominantly around family and spending time together.”
- Gross said that the rescued man was stable, but appeared to have mild hypothermia, shock, and dehydration.