Survival expert reveals what to do if you fall OVERBOARD on a cruise ship - sharing life-saving tips for passengers in the wake of Royal Caribbean tragedy that saw 20-year-old Levion Parker jump to his death

Cruises offer passengers the chance to relax and recoup while travelling the world - but there are inherent risks that come with being on a floating vessel in the middle of the ocean.

On average, 19 passengers fall overboard every year with just four of those being rescued successfully, according to an industry study from 2020.

So, how can you increase your chances of survival if you ever find yourself in a similar situation?

Expert Cat Bingey, from Utah, has weighed in to reveal the best course of action to take if you ever fall overboard during vacation - after it was revealed that 20-year-old Levion Parker had jumped to his death from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during a drunken argument with his dad.

Expert Cat Bingey, from Utah, has weighed in to reveal the best course of action to take if you ever fall overboard during vacation

It comes after it was revealed that 20-year-old Levion Parker, from Florida, had jumped to his death from a cruise ship

Levion reportedly jumped from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during a drunken argument with his dad 

Cat, who has consulted for Bear Grylls and National Geographic, previously spoke to Business Insider about how to act in such an extreme situation.

She said that those who go overboard will likely be fighting against a whole host of factors from the outset including injury from the fall, rough waters, hypothermia and even predators.

But the survival expert began by explaining that the first step was not to panic as she explained that this is actually 'the biggest thing that will kill you.'

'When people enter into a body of water they usually damage their lungs right away because they gasp,' Cat told the outlet.

'We have such a panic instinct to get air and when people do that they bring water into their lungs.' 

Next, the expert urged people to find anything that floats - such as bits of driftwood and buoyant debris - in order to help stay above the water's surface.

It would be impossible to constantly tread water until a rescue party arrives and instead periodic bursts of that, floating and swimming will be your best bet.

'Even a small buoyant device will help you — something you can use with your arms around or your neck over just to help relieve some of the stress if you're not a great swimmer or you're having a hard time staying afloat,' she said. 

On average, 19 passengers fall overboard every year with just four of those being rescued successfully, according to an industry study from 2020 (stock image)

Cat, who has consulted for Bear Grylls and National Geographic, previously spoke to Business Insider about how to act in such an extreme situation

Cat confirmed that best case scenario is that you collect enough to create a makeshift raft to get out of the water almost entirely. 

Elsewhere, the expert insisted that it was more important to focus on food than on water as she explained: 'Our bodies are perfectly, evolutionarily adapted to have this ability to fast for a long period of time.'

Cat revealed that anyone who has potentially fallen overboard will be able to go without rations for a couple of days thanks to reserves stored in fat and the liver.

Dehydration is more of a concern since you also 'don't want to drink any salt water.'

She advised taking steps to conserve the water reserves that are already in your system which includes sheltering from the sun - either using debris or your own clothes to cover your head.

Cat's final point was that creating some form of distress signal will improve your chances of being found.

She candidly concluded: 'In the end, it's kind of a grim situation, but people have survived. And people sometimes just die.'