FL FL - Thomas McElhany, 26, went overboard on Carnival Cruise Ship, Islamorada, Monroe Co, 14 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

Coast Guard searches for overboard passenger on Carnival Victory cruise

A search at sea is underway to find a passenger who went overboard while on a Carnival Cruise ship.

U.S. Coast Guard have spent nearly 12 hours searching south of Islamorada where officials believe the man fell into the water while on the Carnival Victory, Friday.

The cruise ship docked at PortMiami Friday afternoon. However, the search for the passenger continues. The Coast Guard says a helicopter, vessel and surveillance aircraft are being used in the search.

Andrew Dymburt on Twitter

Young cruise ship passenger disappears overboard sparking 'intense search' effort

 

[Elainera]

Horrible! I hope they spot him fast!

 

[rainynights]

#HappeningNow The @USCG continues their search & will continue to search throughout the night for missing 26-year-old, Thomas McElhany, who went overboard a cruise ship 35 miles south of Islamorada.

#Searching #KnowYourMil

USCGSoutheast on Twitter | 7:07 PM (EST) - 14 Dec 2018
USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) | Twitter

 

[liltexans]

The 2,764-passenger ship was returning to Miami after a four-day Western European cruise when the man went overboard. U.S. Coast Guard announced at 9:35 a.m. that it sent a helicopter, ship and plane to look for the man early Friday. By 10:15 a.m. the Carnival Victory was back on its normal route to Miami as the Coast Guard continued the search.

26-year-old man overboard from cruise ship near the Florida Keys

 

[ilovematt]

It’s hard to just “fall overboard” on a cruise ship, unless someone is stumblingly impaired or the water is violent. It’s terrifying to imagine.

 

[rosesfromangels]

It’s hard to just “fall overboard” on a cruise ship, unless someone is stumblingly impaired or the water is violent. It’s terrifying to imagine.

You are correct. Here is an article that discusses this topic in detail, including chances for survival. (~10%)
What Happens When Someone Falls Off a Cruise Ship

 

[cluciano63]

WTH? Why does this seem to happen rather often? These cruises, either e-coli or falling off...
No thanks.

 

[mickey2942]

You are correct. Here is an article that discusses this topic in detail, including chances for survival. (~10%)
What Happens When Someone Falls Off a Cruise Ship

I like the suggestion of cruise ship bartenders doing a better job of monitoring alcohol consumption. I am sure that passengers are not served alcoholic beverages when they appear inebriated. Of course not.

I recently read about how many people die, by posing for "Selfies". This may be a contributing factor as well.

 

[scriabina]

Sadly, it appears to be suicide: this article states going overboard was an "intentional act." Man overboard from Carnival cruise ship in 'intentional act'

 

[Elainera]

Sadly, it appears to be suicide: this article states going overboard was an "intentional act." Man overboard from Carnival cruise ship in 'intentional act'

Wow. Did not expect that!

 

[zecats]

I like the suggestion of cruise ship bartenders doing a better job of monitoring alcohol consumption. I am sure that passengers are not served alcoholic beverages when they appear inebriated. Of course not.

I recently read about how many people die, by posing for "Selfies". This may be a contributing factor as well.

Scary to picture it. And not only on cruises. Hikers have also been in the news, killed by falling when taking selfies. Sad state of affairs.

 

[Elainera]

Still missing.

Carnival Victory Cruise Ship Passenger Who Went Overboard Still Missing

 

[rosesfromangels]

The only (slightly) comforting thought for his family is that he had most likely passed as soon as he hit the water. At that speed it's jumping from a building and hitting concrete. If you've ever taken a serious spill slalom water skiing at a high speed you know what I mean.

 

[scriabina]

The only (slightly) comforting thought for his family is that he had most likely passed as soon as he hit the water. At that speed it's jumping from a building and hitting concrete. If you've ever taken a serious spill slalom water skiing at a high speed you know what I mean.

Pardon my ignorance, but could you explain what you mean by "at that speed"? Did you read somewhere that the cruise ship was traveling very fast? I have never been on a cruise and assumed the ships move very slowly.

 

[JEMB135]

Pardon my ignorance, but could you explain what you mean by "at that speed"? Did you read somewhere that the cruise ship was traveling very fast? I have never been on a cruise and assumed the ships move very slowly.

Not the speed of the ship, but the speed at which a body would hit the water after falling from such a height.

 

[cybervampira]

Coast Guard suspends search for missing cruise ship passenger

Crews ended their search at 10:20 p.m. on Saturday for 26-year-old Thomas McElhany, who reportedly went overboard at 5 a.m. on Friday.

“I have been in contact with members of Mr. McElhany’s family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” said Cmdr. David Aldous, Coast Guard 7th District search and rescue mission coordinator. “Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”

 

[scriabina]

Not the speed of the ship, but the speed at which a body would hit the water after falling from such a height.

Thanks! After some googling I found that Carnival cruise ships are around 200-210 ft high. The Golden Gate Bridge has an average clearance above water ~220 ft and rough calculations put the jumper entering the water at around 80 mph. While there have been some survivors who jumped into the Golden Gate Bridge, it is rare, so yes, it seems highly unlikely he survived the jump, and his death would be due to impact and not drowning. In either case, it's incredibly tragic.

 

[LadyLexx]

How awful and how tragic. Like clucianoestated, this type of news seems to be far more prevalent than I am comfortable with. Just so very sad.

 

[tigerteeth]

WTH? Why does this seem to happen rather often? These cruises, either e-coli or falling off...
No thanks.

Or sinking. Or getting attacked by pirates. No thanks indeed.

 

[FrostOwl]

WTH? Why does this seem to happen rather often? These cruises, either e-coli or falling off...
No thanks.

Or sinking. Or getting attacked by pirates. No thanks indeed.

How often do the news write about cruises where nothing unexpected happens (no cases of E. coli, no-one falling/jumping off) or those very rare examples of a cruise ship attacked by pirates or sinking?

To get a correct number of times when something happens to cruise passengers, you have to count how many cruise ships leave any port anywhere in world for a new cruise every day, and take that number and multiply with 365 days, then you will know how many new cruises there are done a year, and multiply with the number of passengers. Then first can you seee how often something happens during a cruise. I would guess it's much more likely that something will happen to you the next time you take a trip with your car, than if you take a cruise.