Desperate Rescue Ends Without Success
A frantic search for a man in his 70s who plunged overboard from the Carnival Splendour cruise ship off Queensland has been called off. Emergency teams combed the waters 30km northeast of Moreton Island, near Brisbane, after the passenger reportedly jumped into the ocean on Friday night. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) led the massive operation. It involved five rescue helicopters, six surface vessels, and Challenger jets, with help from Queensland Police. Despite the wide-scale effort, the missing man was never found. AMSA confirmed the search was suspended at 5.30pm on Saturday. A spokesperson said: “Following an intensive air and sea search involving multiple assets, the missing person was not located and AMSA has now released all assets from tasking.”
Cruise Line Confirms Jump Overboard
Carnival Cruise Line revealed the man ‘climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard.’ The passenger was travelling with family members who alerted the crew when he went missing.
“The male guest was travelling with family who alerted the ship’s crew of a possible missing person, and a review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action,” a Carnival spokeswoman said. “Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one.”
Authorities will continue investigating when the ship returns to Sydney.
Tragic Days at Sea: Drowning Death Hours Earlier
The dramatic rescue followed a heartbreaking incident just hours earlier, when a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman drowned during a snorkelling stop near the Moreton Island shipwrecks. Despite heroic efforts by an off-duty lifesaver who pulled her ashore, she was pronounced dead at the scene. A coroner’s report is underway, but officials say the two incidents are not linked.
