An elderly individual was suspected of intentionally going overboard from a cruise ship and is believed to have passed away shortly after a woman from the same vessel died.
The incident took place aboard the Carnival Splendor off the coast of Brisbane, Australia, yesterday morning. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducted a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, the man was not found and is now presumed deceased.
At 1:44 am, the ship’s PA system issued a ‘man overboard’ alert, and tracking data revealed a change in the vessel’s course around 1:55 am. Family members of the man reportedly notified the crew of his disappearance.
According to Carnival, CCTV footage captured the man climbing over the safety railing and jumping into the water. The search and rescue efforts continued for approximately 16 hours before being halted at 5:30 pm.
An AMSA spokesperson stated, “Despite an extensive air and sea search involving numerous resources, the missing individual was not located, prompting AMSA to release all assets from the operation.”
The cruise ship was en route from Moreton Island to Sydney when the incident occurred overnight. Carnival Cruise informed authorities and expressed readiness to cooperate in the investigation upon the ship’s return to Sydney. The Carnival Care Team is providing support to the guest’s family during this difficult time.
This incident follows the tragic death of another passenger from the same ship, who drowned during a snorkelling excursion. The 67-year-old woman from Tasmania was discovered unconscious in the water on Friday morning, as reported by the police.
The Carnival Splendor has a capacity of accommodating up to 3,000 passengers and 1,150 crew members, with a length spanning 952 feet. It operates in the Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific regions.