A young man jumped off board Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas just after 4 a.m. Thursday, turning the cruise into a nightmare for the crew.
The 18-story ship was sailing off the coast of Cuba when a still-unidentified man jumped from the deck.
Onlookers said his father and brother watched helplessly as he jumped from the side.
Passenger Deborah Morrison told the Post: “There was a lot of yelling and the crew was alerted immediately.” “His family was terrified. Right next to them. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through.”
Royal Caribbean said in a statement to the Post that its crew took immediate action after the incident.
“The ship’s crew immediately began search and rescue operations with the U.S. Coast Guard taking over the search,” the statement said. “Our care team is providing support and assistance to our guest’s family during this difficult time. To protect the privacy of our guest and his family, we are not sharing any further details.”
News of the apparent suicide attempt quickly spread among the guests, and many tried to help in any way they could.
“It was definitely a tough early morning,” said Amy Phelps Faus, a passenger on the ship. “A lot of people came out of their cabins and looked out to sea and wanted to help find it.”
“Royal Caribbean is great at keeping us informed throughout the day,” Fords continued. “They are asking people to act with compassion in light of the tragic circumstances.”
Overboard accidents on cruise ships are rare.
According to the Washington PostApproximately 386 people were reported to have fallen overboard at major cruise lines between 2000 and 2020.
Accidents, whether accidental or intentional, are often fatal.
In recent years, most cruise lines have introduced onboard safety measures and monitoring systems to reduce the risk of overboard fatalities.
The Coast Guard confirmed to the Post that it is still conducting search and rescue operations off the coast of Cuba. The man has not yet been found.
