A tragic incident unfolded in the Channel Islands when a woman fell from a cruise ship and subsequently lost her life. The ship, MSC Virtuosa, was en route to England from Portugal when the incident occurred. The French Coast Guard was alerted to the situation when a distress signal was sent from the 18-deck vessel, indicating that a woman in her 20s had fallen overboard.
The incident took place north of Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney, shortly after midnight on Saturday. In response to the distress signal, a French Navy H160 helicopter, stationed in Maupertus, Normandy, was dispatched for the rescue mission.
The Channel Islands Air Search group, a volunteer organization, was also called upon to assist in the search. The group’s vessel, Lions’ Pride, departed from Guernsey at 2 a.m. and headed towards the search area. However, the group was stood down after the woman was retrieved from the water around 3 a.m.
The woman was transported by the Navy helicopter to a rescue center in Tourlaville. Unfortunately, upon arrival, she was pronounced dead. The passengers on board the cruise ship were asked to offer prayers for the deceased woman.
A passenger on the cruise, who identified himself as Neil, shared his experience with the BBC. He recounted how the cruise director informed them of a missing passenger, which would cause a delay in their arrival at Southampton.
MSC Cruises, the owner of the ship, expressed their condolences in a statement. They said, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.” They also stated that they would not be providing further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.