Desperate search continues after Australian man falls off cruise ship bound for Hawaii
- Australian man missing in waters off Hawaii
- Fell overboard from Quantum of the Seas
- On a 15 day cruise departing from Brisbane
There is an urgent search for an Australian man who went overboard from a cruise ship bound for Hawaii.
The man went overboard overnight from the Quantum of the Seas, about 900 miles south of Hawaii.
Passengers were instructed to return to their rooms to ensure all their traveling companions were present before they were allowed to vacate their rooms 90 minutes later.
Bright lights were used in the desperate nighttime search for the missing passenger as a U.S. Coast Guard Hercules helicopter was deployed to scan the ocean from above. The United States Navy has been called in to assist.
The identity of the man and how he went overboard is not known at this early stage.
An Australian man went overboard from the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship in waters off Hawaii (photo, stock image of the ship)
A man who has family on board told 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham that the passenger who went overboard is believed to be the partner of someone who died on the ship following a medical emergency.
The Royal Caribbean Cruises ship left Brisbane earlier this month and has been at sea for 15 days.
It stopped in Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean en route and was scheduled to dock in Honolulu.
Tracking data shows that the cruise stopped after the passenger went overboard, but has since resumed its journey to Hawaii.
It is understood that an Anzac Day service was held hours earlier on the cruise for a large number of Australian passengers on board.
Royal Caribbean Cruises has been contacted for further comment.
More to come