JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard reported searching for a man who went overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Jacksonville.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <
According to a tweet from the Coast Guard, a 35-year-old man fell off the side of the Carnival Magic on Monday about 186 miles east of Jacksonville. The Coast Guard said it is using both air and water assets to conduct the search.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
According to CBS affiliate WTKR, the ship, Carnival Magic, left Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday, May 25 and was headed for the Bahamas. She returned to Norfolk on May 30 as search efforts continue.
WTKR reported the man was reported missing by a fellow traveler Monday afternoon. This information was confirmed at the station by Carnival Cruise Line.
A spokesperson for the cruise line said: “… an initial review of closed-circuit security footage confirms that she leaned over the balcony railing of her stateroom and fell into the water at approximately 4: 10 a.m. Monday morning.”
The Coast Guard released the vessel from search and rescue efforts and told the Carnival Magic’s captain to continue on its way to Norfolk.
Read: Officials searching for missing autistic teenager on Jekyll Island
After the Carnival Magic returned to Norfolk Tuesday morning, some passengers told WTKR they heard crew members asking for the man over the intercom, but did not know why or how the man had disappeared.
“There was a security team that raided every deck, every floor, worried. But eventually, they let everybody know that they didn’t find him,” passenger Leevon Porter told WTKR.
Read: Carnival cruise ship floods after Charleston storm
Symone Stewart, another passenger, told WTKR that Carnival Magic staff did not alert them to the man on board. He said he instead learned the man was exaggerating through a Facebook post posted by his wife.
“There was a Facebook page for the cruise and [the wife of the man who went overboard] put it out there,” Stewart said. “But Carnival didn’t say anything about it.”
Read: 9 Injured After Hollywood Boardwalk Shooting, Florida; The victims are between 1 and 65 years old
Carnival Cruise Line said its care team is supporting the guest’s companion.
His statement is as follows:
Carnival Magic has reported a man overboard to the US Coast Guard. His companion was reported missing late Monday afternoon, and an initial review of closed-circuit security footage confirms that he leaned over the balcony railing of his office and fell into the water at approximately 4:10 a.m. Monday morning. The U.S. Coast Guard has released the vessel from any search and rescue efforts and advised the vessel’s captain to continue on its way to Norfolk, where it will arrive as scheduled on Tuesday. The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s companion and travel group on board.
— Carnival Cruise Line
Officials did not release any further details about the incident.
CLICK HERE to read the WTKR article.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV, and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
