A 46-year-old British woman was rescued after falling from the cruise ship Norwegian Star off the coast of Croatia, the country's coastguard reported. Croatian Coast Guard said the woman identified as Kay Longstaff was rescued 10 hours after falling into the Adriatic Sea some 45 nautical miles offshore - around 11.45 pm on Saturday.

The Coast Guard search and rescue operation started at 2.17 am on Sunday after the captain of the cruise ship reported that a passenger had fallen into the sea. 

As soon the alert was received the National Center for Search and Rescue at Sea in Rijeka, launched the search. The joint search operation was carried by members of the Harbor Master's Office, the Coast Guard, and the crew of Norwegian Star. Other ships in the area also joined the search. The officials in Rijeka contacted their colleagues in Italy asking for an engagement of an aircraft for a night search. Colleagues from Italy reported that they did not have aircraft available at that time. Later around 6.42 am the Croatian Coast Guard deployed an airplane in the area. The woman was finally found by the Coast Guard Cavtat crew on Sunday at 9.40am.

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that a passenger had gone overboard while the vessel was on its way from Vargarola to Venice. "We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in stable condition, and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment. We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family," said NCL  spokesperson.

The woman was transferred to a Hospital in Pula. After stepping off the coastguard boat she told reporters she fell off the back of the cruise ship and that she was very lucky to be alive.

The captain, Lovro Oreskovic of the rescue boat who found the woman said "We were extremely happy for saving a human life."