Coast Guard calls off search for man, 20, who jumped overboard on cruise in front of family
Topics: Cruise Ship, News
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Topics: Cruise Ship, News
The US Coast Guard has called off the search for the 20-year-old who is said to have jumped overboard from a cruise ship.
The young man is believed to have ‘jumped off’ Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas in front of his family, who were left looking on ‘helplessly’.
Fellow passengers recalled how there had been ‘a lot of yelling’ as the crew were alerted to the ‘surreal’ incident.
The ship had been sailing between Cuba and the Bahamas' Grand Inagua Island on Thursday 4 April when the man went overboard, at around 4.00am.
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Cruise line brand Royal Caribbean later confirmed a search was underway for the passenger, saying in a statement to the New York Post: "The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the US Coast Guard, who has taken over the search.
“Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”
However, the US Coast Guard has now confirmed the search has been called off, telling LADbible Group in a statement: “The Coast Guard has suspended its search for the 20-year-old pending the development of new information.”
One of the ship’s passengers, Bryan Sims, explained how he’d been hanging out with the 20-year-old and his brother in the hot tub until about 3.30pm.
"It was standing room only,” he said during an interview with the New York Post.
“He sat right beside me the whole time.
“He was pretty drunk.”
Sims continued: “As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.
“When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now'. And he jumped out the window in front of us all.”
He added: "It was insane. It was just surreal.”
Amy Phelps Fouse said Royal Caribbean had been ’excellent’ at communicating updates with those on board, asking people to ‘act with compassion’ in light of the ‘tragic situation’.
“The early morning was definitely sombre as so many people came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person,” she said, with third passenger Deborah Morrison also telling the outlet: “There was a lot of yelling, and the crew was alerted immediately.
“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.”
LADbible Group contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.