Carnival crew member rescued after jumping ship

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- A Carnival cruise ship crew member was rescued after leaping overboard as the ship was returning to Galveston.

A Carnival statement to the Galveston County Daily News (http://bit.ly/x4zPHN) says a crew member of the cruise ship Magic was seen jumping overboard about 11 p.m. Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 miles southeast of Galveston.

A Coast Guard statement says a rescue operation began, but the crew member was fished from the water before a rescue helicopter could be launched.

The Coast Guard says the crewman was wearing a life vest with a strobe light attached, making rescue by other crew members a swift one.

Carnival said the ship's medical staff evaluated the crewman, but didn't say if he required medical care or what prompted the jump.