Man who fell overboard spent 20 hours in shark-infested Gulf of Mexico (5 photos)

James Michael Grimes fell overboard from the Carnival Valor cruise ship en route from New Orleans to Mexico and spent 20 hours fighting for his life. He was pulled from the sea completely naked "seconds from death."





As Grimes puts it: "It was a Thanksgiving to remember."

The 28-year-old remembers entering an air guitar contest, then finding himself in freezing water the next moment.

While his family thought he was asleep in his cabin, James was fighting for his life, fighting off predators and snacking on floating bamboo. He was reported missing 12 hours later.



The American told ABC7: "We were just hanging out, having a good time, listening to live music, that's all."

He admitted to having a few drinks throughout the day and winning a free drink for his air guitar solo, but was not drunk. Before he disappeared, James told his sister he was going to the bathroom, but he doesn't remember falling.

"When I came to, the boat was gone. God was with me. Something kept me afloat the whole time I was unconscious. I was always afraid of drowning. I wanted to see my family, I was determined to save myself. I couldn't accept the idea that this was the end."





Alabama's James spent 20 hours in the water while the Coast Guard combed 7,000 miles of shark-infested waters.

Grimes saw the tanker and decided to swim towards it with all the strength he had left. Luckily, the crew spotted him and called for help.

"I told the lifeguard, 'I'm naked because I'm naked.' And he said, 'I'm fine.'

I just thought, 'Thank you. You're like a guardian angel coming down for me.'



The experience gave the man a new perspective, and after his miraculous rescue, he found a fortune cookie in his trouser pocket that read, 'Life is a beach, enjoy the waves.'

"Falling overboard didn't kill me, sharks didn't eat me, so I'm destined to live," James is sure.