EXCLUSIVE: Man Falls 60 Feet From Cruise Ship, Lives to Tell His Tale

March 22, 2007 — -- By almost all accounts, Michael Menckmyer shouldn't be alive.

Last week, he plunged 60 feet from the balcony of his cruise ship. Alone in the ocean, he tread water for eight hours. Miraculously, he survived with only minor injuries. He told his story exclusively to "Good Morning America."

Menckmyer was on a seven-day Bahamas cruise to celebrate a godson's birthday. On the night of his accident, he was ready to let loose and party.

"I had ordered some room service and beer, and I was drinking that. I don't remember much after that," he said. "Apparently, the alcohol took over with the medication I was on."

Whether an adverse reaction, or just too much of a good time, Menckmyer blacked out. Just after midnight, he inexplicably leapt off the side of the ship into the dark abyss of the Caribbean.

"Falling from 70 feet, they say it's supposed to be like hitting concrete," Menckmyer said.

The fact that the fall didn't kill him was a miracle in itself. But as he bobbed in the open sea, the ship sailed off into the night, leaving him stranded.

"It was very, very, very frightening," he said. "I was sitting there thinking, 'What is going to happen to me now?' I remember being in the ocean and the waves were just up and down… looking for that boat or that helicopter… just looking for anything."

Fortunately for Menckmyer, the water off the coast of Florida was a balmy 78 degrees. He could survive for some time, but the clock was ticking.

"I wanted to get out of the water, I wanted to go home," Menckmyer said. "I was looking for dolphins more than anything. I was hoping the dolphins would come up and save me."

Menckmyer tread water for five hours until a Coast Guard ship appeared. But the crew on board the ship couldn't see him, and they turned away.

"As soon as I saw the Coast Guard and I thought I was saved, and they turned around and didn't see me, it definitely set in that you are in trouble and you might not make it," Menckmyer said.