A 20-year-old man went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship Thursday and crews were searching for him, according to an X post from U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.
As of Friday, the USCG hadn’t posted any update on the search. It said he went overboard 57 miles from Great Inagua and that USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews were conducting the search efforts.
“I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30,” passenger Bryan Sims told the New York Post of the missing man, per the outlet. “It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.”
Sims also said the now-missing man was “pretty drunk,” and that he was travelling with his brother and his father, who was “fussing” with the young man for being drunk.
“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.”
Amidst yelling, the crew was immediately notified, said Deborah Morrison, another passenger who spoke to the New York Post. Royal Caribbean also said its crew immediately acted and began partnering with the Coast Guard following the incident in a statement provided to the outlet. Now the USCG has taken over the search.
“His family was horrified. Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through,” Morrison said. Sims also described the scene as “surreal.”
Other passengers also stared into the sea hoping to find the man, said Amy Phelps Fouse, another passenger.
“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,” said Royal Caribbean.
According to Business Insider, overboard incidents linked to cruise ships are rare. Last year, 10 people fell off major cruise line ships and two survived their falls.