Cruise ship passenger who went overboard was ‘dead set’ on surviving | GMA

James Michael Grimes, 28, is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC News after going overboard on a Carnival cruise ship after being missing for almost 20 hours.

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#jamesmichaelgrimes #carnivalcruise #overboard

[Lunaa_]

7000 mile search area? Can we please take a moment to appreciate the search crew?! They're truly heroes

[Magencory]

He doesn’t remember because he was most likely blackout drunk. You don’t recall a thing once that light switch turns off. He was definitely wasted. I am so happy he survived! Truly a miracle!

[alizaepstein]

As a swim instructor who teaches water survival I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to learn how to swim and especially float. It can and will save your life. I can’t believe he was treading water the whole time. What a miracle!

[canadafragrancereviewerdia]

What an incredibly lucky man. He survived the fall too. I can’t imagine waking up in water and no ship in sight. How terrifying. His worst nightmare come true. He had an angel on his shoulder that night and day. He was meant to live and do something.

[JasonCarney.]

She is grilling him like a prosecutor.
He's being vague because he wants to sue the cruise ship company.
He was drunk AF.

[JonnoPlays]

One thing you'll often hear from people who survive in situations like this is that their will to live was the only thing that saved them. It's incredible and very impressive that he managed to pull it off.

[SteezyKane]

“I’m open to going on another cruise, ‘cause I really didn’t get to go on this one”

[TBell-vbnw]

He was definitely drunk, but I am glad he was a great swimmer to survive.

[tkdgalsamm]

Having been on many cruises, I cannot understand how on earth he just fell off. Even if he were drunk as a skunk. What an incredible story. He is so lucky to be alive.

[kfeder]

Treading water for 20 hours is unbelievable. The fact he was drunk and treading water for twenty hours is nothing short of miraculous.

[leocarrillo]

He know damn well he was drunk or he was on something. He couldnt even look at her in the eye, when answering her question

[bblauter]

The rescuers are HEROS, 7000 mile search area and they got him. Respect to the rescuers, working through Thanksgiving.

[zardo]

This man has a team of guardian angels. What a miracle.

[gdiup]

No one JUST falls off a ship like that. Crazy that he was able to tread & be found. Thank you for finding this father.

[dee]

His ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort for nearly 20 hours probably drunk is when your survival instincts kicked in .. His physical, mental and spiritual stamina is indeed admirable. If you're Lucky enough to get a second chance at something, Don't Waste It!

[patriciabarajas]

Wow this is an amazing story! He will never be the same again. I can imagine the shock and gratitude his family felt when it was reported he survived.

[Papin]

Hope Jimmy handles the 12 Steps as well as he tackled those 20 hours in the water. Kudos to the Coast Guard for spotting and saving this very lucky man!

[vinniepro]

He had to have been totally shit faced, passed out and fell overboard, then surely came to within seconds of hitting the water despite what he thinks he remembers. The fact that he was able to survive for all those hours is truly incredible, if not miraculous! Can't help but love this guy!

[Rose-itfn]

This is an amazing story. I was swept out to sea once in a rip current. I was rescued by a boater who passed by 3 times before seeing me. For me it was only an hour but seemed like an eternity. I knew I was going to die. The energy it takes to keep your head above water is unimaginable. The fact that this man was in the water 20 hours and managed to keep his head above water is nothing short of a miracle. I hope he realizes GOD has a purpose for his life and I hope he stops drinking....lol. a MIRACLE.

[jrowlandj]

To be blacked out drunk and know how to orient yourself after falling such a distance, into black water, is quite a feat in and of itself. The fact that this guy didn't get eaten by sharks treading water for 20 hours in the Gulf of Mexico, also very much surprises me.