British man missing after Falling Overboard From Cruise Ship Near Tenerife
Tenerife, Canary Islands – A large-scale search is underway for a 76-year-old British man who went missing from the Marella Explorer 2 cruise ship on Thursday morning. The incident occured approximately 16.5 nautical miles northwest of Punta Teno, Tenerife, according to a statement from the coast guard, who received an alert at 9:48 a.m. local time.
Helicopters and patrol boats are currently involved in the search operation.The Marella Explorer 2 was travelling between Funchal in Madeira and San Sebastian de La Gomera in the Canary Islands at the time.
Marella Cruises confirmed the incident, stating: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a guest was seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera.Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this challenging time.”
The cruise line added that its dedicated care team is providing support to the family, and thay are cooperating fully with local authorities. “We are working closely with local authorities and will continue to offer every possible support,” the statement read.
Following the incident, the ship’s captain instantly initiated the international “man overboard” protocol, which includes reviewing camera footage, deploying marker rafts, and conducting search maneuvers, as reported by news website Voz Populi.
The Marella Explorer 2 docked at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 2:40 a.m. local time.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more data becomes available.
