Emergency search operation underway for cruise passenger overboard in England

A rescue helicopter hovers over luxury yachts. Rescue operation at sea using a helicopter.
Edited by Travel Weekly


    A major search is underway for a passenger who ‘went overboard’ the Aida Perla cruise liner off the coast of Kent yesterday.

    The German ship is currently sailing from Hamburg to Rotterdam, however has been halted on its journey after a man went overboard near Ramsgate in the U.K.

    An emergency response is now underway involving the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and local Coastguard.

    ‘AIDA Cruises confirms that there is reason to believe that a crew member of AIDAperla went overboard in the English channel in the early morning of October 22,” a statement from German operator AIDA, read.

    ‘The captain and crew of AIDAperla immediately initiated all necessary rescue measures in close coordination with the local authorities.

    ‘The search on board confirmed that a male crew member is missing.

    ‘The ship was immediately stopped and returned to the spot where the incident was believed to have taken part in the search.

    ‘The search for the missing person is ongoing and has our utmost priority.”

    RNLI confirmed it had sent two all-weather lifeboats to help with the search, both of which launched on Sunday morning (local time).

    The Coastguard also confirmed its involvement in the emergency search, “HM Coastguard is coordinating the search for a man reported overboard from a passenger ship on 22 October,” a spokesperson said.

    ‘HM Coastguard was alerted at about 8.55am. The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter has been sent from Lydd alongside a Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats from Ramsgate and Dover.’

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