Man Fell Overboard from Cruise Ship, Kept Himself Alive With Thoughts Of His 9-Year-Old Daughter
October 24, 2024
As James Michael Grimes, a 28-year-old man who fell overboard a cruise ship, tread water for 18 hours, thoughts of his 9-year-old daughter occupied his mind and motivated him to hold on until rescue arrived. And his inspirational short story is truly amazing!
28-year-old James Michael Grimes joined 17 loved ones on a Thanksgiving cruise. But he only enjoyed one evening before facing what he says was his greatest fear!
RELATED: Man Lost At Sea, Treading Water For 28+ Hours, Then He Saw A Cross
A construction worker from Valley, Alabama, James was looking forward to a relaxing cruise to Cozumel as he boarded the Carnival Valor in New Orleans on November 23, 2022. After the ship left port, James had a few beers and wine, and a drink that he won during an air guitar competition.
But then, something terrible happened. After leaving the bar that evening, the man fell overboard from the cruise ship and into the Gulf of Mexico!
James Michael Grimes has no recollection of the fall, but he remembers regaining consciousness in the water. He told People, "The next thing I remember is waking up in the water. The boat was out of sight. I thought, 'Wow, this is for real. I'm out here in the sea.'"
RELATED: Man Survived 18 Hours Adrift In Sea After God Sent A Blessing In The Form Of A Soccer Ball
James has no explanation for how he survived during the time he was unconscious in the water other than divine intervention.
"I can't float myself even when I'm trying to so... the Lord was with me when I was out there," he said.
It’s hard to imagine surviving more than a few minutes in those waters with nothing but the clothes on your back, but, miraculously, James did!
"Drowning has always been my biggest fear," he said, "so I told myself that I wouldn't stop swimming."
Love Motivates After Man Fell Overboard Cruise Ship
Thoughts of his daughter provided the motivation James Michael Grimes needed to keep swimming and treading water for 18 hours!
James recalled, "I kept thinking about how badly I wanted to see my 9-year-old daughter Annabeth while making up songs that I sang to myself."
RELATED: Man Desperately Clings To The Side Of Capsized Boat For 2 Days And Then Rescue Comes
What James probably didn’t realize is that no one was even looking for him until the next day when his sister realized he was missing. Carnival and the U.S. Coast Guard began searching immediately, and, amazingly, they found James still alive!
While drifting alone in the water, the man who fell overboard from the cruise ship encountered two groups of jellyfish, which stung him all over his arms and legs. And, he came dangerously close to what he believed was a shark. The fish brushed against him, James kicked at it, and the shark swam on, but it was terrifying!
Rescue Finally Arrives
As the sun set, James, badly sunburned by now began shivering, but he spotted two ships. He swam for hours to get closer to the vessels, and he finally did. Someone on the deck of one of those ships spotted James as he yelled for help. One person threw a life preserver to James, and soon he was in a basket and being airlifted from the water and to safety!
James found both physical and emotional strength during his ordeal. He knows that God was with him during those long hours in the ocean. He said, “I'm still bruised up and sore, but it's a miracle I survived. It wasn't my time to die. I'm grateful to see my family again.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Man Trapped At Sea Spent More Than 14 Hours Clinging To Buoy And Waiting For Rescue
If James Michael Grimes didn’t have plenty to be grateful for when he began that Thanksgiving cruise, he certainly does now!
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
WATCH: James Michael Grimes Shares Story Of Surviving After He Fell Overboard Cruise Ship
LISTEN: Young Fans Work Hard To Get Luke Combs Concert | Father and Son Found In Boston Harbor
h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Good Morning America
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- A Cab Driver Almost Didn't Wait. Then Someone Climbed Into His Backseat Who Changed His Life Forever.
- Top Tips For A Successful Marriage From A Couple Married 87 Years. #14 Is My Favorite!
- How This Girl Was Protected From An Attacker in a Dark Alley Gave Me Chills. WOW!
- Sneaky Photobombing Dogs Have Perfect Timing
- This Christian Couple's Dedication to the Lord is Incredibly Inspiring
- These 10 Unusual Animal Friendships Are Amazing. #5 Just Melted My Heart To Pieces!
- 2 Gorilla Brothers Amazed Everyone With Their Emotions When They Were Reunited
- Orphaned Chimpanzee Gets Adopted By A Family Of Dogs
- A Tribute To A Firefighter Who Died While Saving Others
- Kids Say the Darndest Things. Especially About Marriage!
- Security Guard Loves His Job At Disney World And Spreads Joy
- These Church-Going Kids Are About To Make You Chuckle. So Cute!
- A Toddler Who Is Fighting Cancer Asked for Pizza And Got a Miracle
- Thoughtful Young Man Becomes A Human Chair For An Elderly Lady
- A Pregnant Dog with Half a Face Saved 2 Little Girls from Death. Incredible!
- 2 Friends Went to The Shore to Relax But Ended Up Saving A Lamb's Life
- God Helps a Brave Mother Keep Her Little Children Quiet for 5 Hours To Survive Terrorist Attack
- Nothing Else Could Save This Baby's Life, That's When Her Big Brother Performed a Miracle.
- Churchgoers Ignored the Pleas of A Homeless Man
- 19 Fool-Proof Ways to Turn Any Frown Upside Down
- When His Teacher Learned His Secret, It Brought Her To Tears. And Made Her A Better Person.
- She Feared For Her Life When God Told Her To Pedal. But Then, Her Trust Paid Off. WOW!
- Family Is Being Persecuted For Their Faith
- 10 Grooms' Faces When They First See Their Brides
- This Baby Was Abandoned by His Mother and Called an Ugly Duckling. Then Something Beautiful Happened
- When I Heard What This Woman Did In A Walmart Parking Lot, I Was Stunned.
- 30 Incredible Photos of Children Playing Will Show You What Sheer JOY Looks Like!
- These 6 Couples Didn't Let Storms of Life Ruin Their Wedding Days
- The Willis Family - A Tragic & Inspiring Story
- Veteran Waited On New Wheelchair For 2 Years But Then Lowe's Employees Stepped In
- This Elephant Was Chained And Beaten For 50 Years. But Now He's Free And I'm Not The Only One Crying!
- This Waiter Got The Surprise of A Lifetime from a Complete Stranger. And It Wasn't HIS Birthday!
- You Won't Believe What This 8-Year-Old Did For His Brother. To Him, He's Not Disabled, He's PERFECT!
- This Man Wrote A Letter To The Teacher Who Changed His Life. Just Wait 'Til You Read It!
- A Grieving Dad Begged for Help To Take Away The Pain. How Total Strangers Responded Had Me In Tears!
- These 3 Trees Had Big Dreams, But They Came Crashing Down! This Tale Will Change Your Life!
- Those Who Wrongfully Judged this Fisherman Because of His Appearance Missed Out on a HUGE Blessing!
- 14 Precious Rat Photos That Prove God Doesn't Make Mistakes
- Sweet Giraffe Kisses Dying Zoo Worker Goodbye
- A Father Hadn't Spoken to His Daughter in a Year. But What He Did for Her is a Lesson in Forgiveness
- These Deer Were Trapped In The Icy Waters With No Hope In Sight. Until God Sent Help Just In Time!
- He Was Bullied To His Breaking Point... But God Sent a Friend to Save His Life.
- When She Lost Her Battle With Cancer, They Lost Their Biggest Fan.
- Grieving Parents are Comforted by Wedding Dresses Turned into Angel Gowns for Babies
- This New Marine Gave Her Grandpa A Huge Surprise. And Her First Salute!
- A Soldier in Battle Faced Death. But How God 'Covered' Him and the Entire Army is Truly a MIRACLE!
- Most of Them Were Left Out of Their High School Proms, But Wait Until You See What God Had in Mind!
- What A Room Full Of Balloons Can Teach You About Joy
- He Fought Off A Rapist And Saved A Woman's Life. But He Says He's No Hero!
- Woman Writes Letter to Daughter-In-Law in the Future
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.