A week ago a friend of mine lost a man overboard in a gale force wind out side the marina. This accident could have been dramatic if the vessel was nearly stopped by the wave which storm the deck. The sailor was rescue within minutes after the fall. He swimmed to the boat which was a mistake. He could not pull himself out of the water back on board despite the short period in the ocean.
Better not to move to preserve your energy and body temperature.
Click on the link below for another reading an reminder as how to retrieve MOB.