Mystery Surrounds Fall From Cruise Ship

Mike Mankamyer Fell 60 Feet From A Cruise Ship Into The Atlantic, But He's Not Saying What Happened

(CBS)  When the Coast Guard brought Mike Mankamyer back ashore, his sister was planning his funeral. His survival is a wonder. How he got into the predicament remains a mystery.

Mankamyer was on Carnival Glory for a cruise to the Bahamas. Early Friday morning, he reportedly jumped 60 feet off a balcony into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Coast Guard finally spotted him 30 miles off Ft. Lauderdale's coast. He had treaded water for eight hours. Mankamyer — an average swimmer, overweight, with a collapsed lung —had mild hypothermia, but was otherwise fine.

"I tapped him on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up and he said, 'Thank you,' " Petty Officer Vincent Martin of the U.S. Coast Guard told CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

Why he went overboard is unclear. Mankamyer's godson, also on board, says they were fighting. Other passengers told the Coast Guard that Mankamyer was drunk.

"They announced over the loudspeakers there was a man overboard," passenger Karl Kleintop said.

Passengers heard sirens. But no one saw a man in the water. Few people expected a happy ending.

"We're shocked. Everyone was shocked because they told us only three to four hours he would survive in the water," passenger Lucy Delia said.

From 60 feet, falling into water can be like hitting concrete. Mankamyer did it, but he's not talking about it in public.

Lt. Marcus Canady flew the helicopter and Petty Officer Howat Will pulled Mankamyer out of the water. Will jumped into the water from 15 feet up and found Mankamyer in "pretty good shape."

"I asked him if he was OK and he said he was exhausted," Will told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. "Initially I started all the conversations. He was trying — once we got him into the helicopter, obviously he was exhausted and he wanted to go to sleep but I kept asking him questions to try to keep him awake."

Canady then had to steady the helicopter at 15 feet above the water while Mankamyer was hoisted up.

"It's a pretty difficult task but it's a task that the coast guard pilots, we always train for," Canady said. "We have our semiannual meetings that keep us proficient in handling situations like this. Myself and any other Coast Guard aviators would have been able to do the same hoist."

[momofthree6]

I know that the article states his obesity, and I am sure that helped him to an extent and the way I read the article is that they were surprised he lasted so long given some of his conditions...At the same time though I think some of the comments are out of line. What purpose does it serve to call someone fatso or to say they should have thrown some hoodia into the water.

I really hope that some of these people making comments do not have children because I feel sorry for them if they do, if a parent makes it okay to call people fat and laugh about it, then imagine what these kids say to other kids at school. My son is a big kid and is only nine years old, he is funny shaped kid and I watch what he eats and he exercises but he is still heavy and I know how he feels when people call him fat and make fun of his weight. All I am saying is lets be considerate of other peoples feelings, there may be more ongoing issues other than him just being fat, maybe it is a medical condition that was not reported!

[agnim]

"Its nice to hear that this guy survived something like this situation, but does it really matter how much he weighs and stuff like that,

Posted by momofthree6 at 09:57 AM : Mar 20, 2007"

Take up your objection with those reporting the article about the drunken swimmer's obesity. LOL

Obviously his fat was an advantage. And he did get a chance to burn some fat and get in shape in the water, right?

All well that ends well. LOL

To be sure,
this could be an obesity cure:
Toss fatso way out in the ocean; and dare them to swim, burn fat, or sink. LOL

[momofthree6]

Its nice to hear that this guy survived something like this situation, but does it really matter how much he weighs and stuff like that, some of these comments I have been reading are really mean, I guess all of you all are super skinny!

[asor1-2009]

Maybe the most humane thing would have been to drop a ton of Hoodia into the water????

[djermano1]

I think he was pushed over.

[asor1-2009]

Posted by RandalDS at 03:47 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Sometimes you are pretty humorous, this is one of them!!!!
Actually, "get into rehab" is the new "drop-dead, loser".

[randalds]

Things to do before dying:

Take a cruise. Check.

Get really drunk on the cruise. Check.

Fall overboard and yet be so drunk that I survive and thereby make a complete as*s out of myself before the entire world. Check.

[agnim]

See the advantage of being FAT?
You float better; and the fat keeps you warm in cold water. LOL

[connapa]

Like the guy who "fell" 16 stories (and lived). Here's another one who has yet to reach their "bottom."

[presnelr]

Thank God he was found and is now safe. The part that puzzles me is now that another person has fallen off a ship, cruising will have another blemish. I have cruised many times and know how safe cruising is and how diligently cruise lines, especially Carnival, (I was on Carnival Glory last year) enforce safety rules and regs. Don't blame the cruise lines for one person's carelessness.

[godofredo29]

I blame myself.

[michaure]

what an idiot... the world doesn't need stupid idiot drunks like that in the world...let em' drown.

[mrvolleyba11]

I WANT TO KNOW WHY HE HAD TO TREAD WATER FOR 8 HOURS WHEN IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT HE WENT OVERBOARD???

[last121868]

MityWhity,
prrrrrrr, wish I could see....if you are a male that is......

[hotsista0201]

Well, you know the saying:
"God looks out for children and fools."
In this case, it sounds like a true statment.

[extremophil]

I guess now he will write a book and make a movie about what it's like to get drunk and jump off a cruise ship.

[mitywhity]

His mass of bodyfat saved his life in this case. It absorbed most of the shock of impact and helped buoy him at the surface for those eight hours. I of course, being so trim and buff would have died upon impact and sank like a rock.