Tragedy at sea: Woman dies after falling from MSC Virtuosa
A woman in her 20s has died after falling overboard from the luxury cruise ship MSC Virtuosa. The tragic incident occurred near the Channel Islands, west of Alderney. As reported by the "Daily Mail", the rescue operation began during the night.
13 October 2024 18:02
The alarm was raised at around 1:00 am. On the ship, which has 18 decks, the captain announced "man overboard" and the search operation immediately began in the area around Les Casquets rocks, north of Alderney. The search involved a French Navy helicopter, an RNLI lifeboat, and a plane from Channel Islands Air Search.
Rescue teams found the woman, but despite resuscitation attempts, she was declared deceased. French and British police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
One of the passengers, quoted by the "Mirror", described the moment when he heard the alarm: "The ship let off loud blasts, I thought the ship was in trouble, then the captain announced 'person overboard, person overboard, port side' the ship slowed down and they had spotlights into the sea looking for her."
At 2:30 am, it was announced that one person was still missing, and the captain expressed sympathies to the family. The ship’s journey from Southampton was delayed.
MSC Virtuosa is a modern cruise ship, offering its passengers numerous attractions. Onboard, you can find a 4D cinema, a bowling alley, a casino, and a Formula 1 simulator. Passengers can also enjoy live entertainment, including Broadway-style shows and Carousel Productions at Sea spectacles.
The ship was originally scheduled to arrive in Southampton at 6:15 am and set sail again at 8:00 pm.