U.S. Coast Guard Searches For Man Overboard

January 1, 2009

According to reports the Coast Guard has stated a man employed as part of the entertainment on the Carnival cruise ship Sensation reportedly fell overboard in the waters off of Florida.

The man allegedly fell overboard at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Thursday and in a statement from the Carnival cruise company the man was not working at the time he fell overboard and was a part of the entertainment staff on the cruise ship. Carnival also stated that six other crew members saw the employee fall overboard and the crew members stated the man accidentally fell from the ship. At the time the crew members saw him fall they threw him a life ring and also notified the ships officials. Then the Coast Guard was alerted to the situation according to Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class James Harless.

Harless stated the man fell approximately 82 feet and the water was approximately 72 degrees. He also stated it is unclear if the man overboard was able to catch the life ring the crew members threw to him.

Carnival Cruise lines have also released a statement to the mans family and friends stating their thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and his friends.

The ship was approximately 20 miles from the coast of Vero Beach when the man fell from the ship, after a full day of searching he has not been found; searches were carried out on the water and by air. Harless of the Coast Guard stated they searched with a Coast Guard cutter, a smaller boat that was dispatched from Fort Pierce and a rescue helicopter.

The Carnival ship Sensation was in route from the Bahamas to Port Canaveral, the cruise ship was late returning and passengers stated the atmosphere today was solemn in light of the missing man. Carnival cruise ship accident attorneys are probably sharpening their swords to get this case.