A woman who fell off a cruise ship and drifted at sea for 38 hours after surviving told the incredible tale.

The 32-year-old woman, known only as Ms Fan, fell overboard after leaning too far over the fourth deck last Wednesday – the same height as a seven-storey building.

Incredibly, Ms Fan, from Shanghai in China, survived with only minor injuries despite having nothing to cling onto when she fell, not wearing a lifejacket and treading water for nearly two days.

She was rescued by fishermen in waters south of Shanghai on Friday morning before being taken to a local hospital after not eating or drinking for 38 hours.

Ms Fan was on a five-day cruise on the Royal Caribbean from Shanghai to South Korea and Japan, local media reports.According to local media, Ms Fan accidentally fell forward into the sea and called for help, but wasn’t heard.

After becoming exhausted, she somehow still managed to tread water while dozing off before spotting the fishing vessel when she awoke on Friday morning.

Astonished users took to site Sina Weibo to say the amazing Ms Fan should be in the Olympics for her physical feat.