Coast Guard rescues man who went overboard on cruise ship

A 28-year-old man who went overboard while on a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard almost 20 hours after he was reported missing.

The guest, according to a representative with Carnival Cruise Line, was at a bar with his sister on the Carnival Valor and left to use the bathroom at around 11 p.m. Wednesday night. He never returned and his sister reported him missing the following day. The Coast Guard received the call at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Carnival crew searched the ship Thursday but were unsuccessful, later deciding to retrace the ship's route to find the missing guest.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Carnival crew with search and rescue and told ABC News they found the man in the water shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. He was rescued approximately 20 hours since he was last seen.

The man was reported to be in stable condition, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

"The Jayhawk aircrew hoisted the man onto the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport," a statement from the Coast Guard read.

The ship was on its way to Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Caribbean, and was released by the Coast Guard to continue to its destination.

"We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Sector New Orleans search and rescue mission coordinator. "It took a total team effort from Coast Guard watchstanders, response crews, and our professional maritime partners operating in the Gulf of Mexico to locate the missing individual and get him to safety. If not for the alert crew aboard the motor vessel Crinis, this case could have had a much more difficult ending."