An elderly passenger reportedly went overboard from a cruise ship and is now presumed dead, following the death of another passenger on the same vessel.
The incident occurred on the Carnival Splendor off the coast of Brisbane, Australia. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducted a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, the man could not be located.
The ship’s PA system issued a ‘man overboard’ alert at 1.44 am, with tracking data indicating a change in course around 1.55 am. The man’s family reportedly informed the crew when he went missing.
According to Carnival, CCTV footage captured the man climbing over the safety railing and jumping overboard. The search and rescue efforts lasted approximately 16 hours before being called off at 5.30 pm.
An AMSA spokesperson stated that despite an extensive air and sea search involving multiple assets, the missing person was not found, leading to the release of all search resources.
The Carnival Splendor was en route from Moreton Island to Sydney when the incident occurred. Carnival Cruise has cooperated with authorities and pledged assistance in the investigation upon the ship’s return to Sydney. The cruise line’s Care Team is providing support to the guest’s family.
This tragic event follows the drowning death of a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman from the same ship during a snorkelling excursion.
The Carnival Splendor, with a capacity of up to 3000 passengers and 1150 crew members, sails in the Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific regions.