Horror at sea: Cruise ship rocked by tragic passenger death
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Cruise ship operator Carnival Australia has confirmed that a passenger on board their Pacific Explorer vessel was found dead after falling overboard on the evening of December 13.
The 23-year-old woman had been travelling with a family member, who is being cared for by Carnival's onboard team as they cope with this distressing tragedy.
‘This tragic discovery comes after an overnight search and rescue operation,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Relevant authorities have been advised and we will continue to work with them and provide any assistance required.’
Responders found her body at around 7 AM this morning.
The pair were travelling from Port Melbourne, Victoria, to Kangaroo Island and vice versa as part of a four-day trip.
The search for her began shortly after midnight when the crew of the Pacific Explorer noticed she was missing during sail off nearby Cape Jaffa in South Australia.
An alarm was triggered at 11:30 PM, which prompted search and rescue operations by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
Two helicopters and an aeroplane were deployed to search for the missing woman in the waters off South Australia's southeast coastline in the Great Australian Bight — where authorities eventually discovered the woman's body.
The body was then retrieved and identified.
The Pacific Explorer, which remained stationary while the search and rescue operations were ongoing as part of its protocol, will no longer proceed with its original route.
Instead, the cruise ship will return to Port Melbourne where authorities will investigate the circumstances behind the woman’s death.
Now, if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of falling overboard, the most important thing to do is to remain calm. Remember that panicking won't help you in these kinds of situations.
If ever you fall from a small boat, the first step is to try to get back onto the boat. If the boat is close, you may be able to grab onto a line or railing and pull yourself back up.
If that isn't possible, hold onto any floating objects or debris you may find. If you are wearing a life jacket, this will help you stay afloat until you can be rescued.
If you can't immediately get back onto the boat or fall from a large ship, try to make yourself visible to those on board. Wave your arms, yell for help by shouting ‘Man overboard!’, or blow a whistle if you have one. Try to stay close so that you can easily be found.
If the boat or ship is too far away, the best thing you can do is to conserve your energy and keep as warm as possible. Moving about is said to expend more body heat, which can be disastrous in cold water.
And lastly, float on your back with your head facing the sky. This will help keep you afloat and make it easier for rescuers to spot you.
Our deepest condolences to the young woman’s family and loved ones.
Our thoughts also go out to guests still on board and all staff involved in what we're sure has been an incredibly difficult situation.
Stay posted at our News & Politics forum for other current events.
What is your reaction to this story?
Tell us in the comments section below.
The 23-year-old woman had been travelling with a family member, who is being cared for by Carnival's onboard team as they cope with this distressing tragedy.
‘This tragic discovery comes after an overnight search and rescue operation,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Relevant authorities have been advised and we will continue to work with them and provide any assistance required.’
Responders found her body at around 7 AM this morning.
The pair were travelling from Port Melbourne, Victoria, to Kangaroo Island and vice versa as part of a four-day trip.
The search for her began shortly after midnight when the crew of the Pacific Explorer noticed she was missing during sail off nearby Cape Jaffa in South Australia.
Carnival Australia has assured it will cooperate with authorities on the death of the 23-year-old woman. Screengrab Credit: YouTube/Cruise Passenger
An alarm was triggered at 11:30 PM, which prompted search and rescue operations by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
Two helicopters and an aeroplane were deployed to search for the missing woman in the waters off South Australia's southeast coastline in the Great Australian Bight — where authorities eventually discovered the woman's body.
The body was then retrieved and identified.
The Pacific Explorer, which remained stationary while the search and rescue operations were ongoing as part of its protocol, will no longer proceed with its original route.
Instead, the cruise ship will return to Port Melbourne where authorities will investigate the circumstances behind the woman’s death.
Now, if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of falling overboard, the most important thing to do is to remain calm. Remember that panicking won't help you in these kinds of situations.
The open ocean is a terrifying place to fall in, but to the best that you can — don’t panic. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Sebastian Arie Voortman
If ever you fall from a small boat, the first step is to try to get back onto the boat. If the boat is close, you may be able to grab onto a line or railing and pull yourself back up.
If that isn't possible, hold onto any floating objects or debris you may find. If you are wearing a life jacket, this will help you stay afloat until you can be rescued.
If you can't immediately get back onto the boat or fall from a large ship, try to make yourself visible to those on board. Wave your arms, yell for help by shouting ‘Man overboard!’, or blow a whistle if you have one. Try to stay close so that you can easily be found.
If the boat or ship is too far away, the best thing you can do is to conserve your energy and keep as warm as possible. Moving about is said to expend more body heat, which can be disastrous in cold water.
And lastly, float on your back with your head facing the sky. This will help keep you afloat and make it easier for rescuers to spot you.
Our thoughts also go out to guests still on board and all staff involved in what we're sure has been an incredibly difficult situation.
Stay posted at our News & Politics forum for other current events.
What is your reaction to this story?
Tell us in the comments section below.
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