Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison on Board Cruise Ship That Rescued 16 Suspected Migrants off Cuba Coast
"We just stopped for this boat with 16 people in the middle of the ocean."
— -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was on board a Carnival cruise as the ship rescued 16 suspected migrants off the coast of Cuba today -- and he snapped photos of the rescue.
The Carnival Sensation was en route from Key West, Florida, to Cozumel, Mexico, when it rescued 16 people -- 15 men and 1 woman -- from a "vessel in distress" about 50 miles off the northern coast of Cuba, Jennifer de la Cruz, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement today.
A Coast Guard spokesman told ABC News that the Coast Guard received a report from Carnival Sensation of the rescue of 16 suspected migrants. The Coast Guard has an agreement with cruise ships that if it's safe for them to do so, they should take suspected migrants to the next port, which in this case is Cozumel, the spokesman explained.
Both Mexican and U.S. authorities were contacted, the Carnival spokeswoman said.
Pro football player James Harrison happened to be on board the ship and posted to Instagram Saturday morning: "We just stopped for this boat with 16 people in the middle of the ocean. Waiting for coast guard now."
The boat then resumed course for Mexico where it is expected to arrive this afternoon, the Carnival spokeswoman said.
This cruise trip on the Carnival Sensation is called the "2016 Legends of Pittsburgh Cruise" and features Harrison as well as other "legends" from Pittsburgh sports, music, food and entertainment culture, according to the event website.