A 67-year-old woman from Tasmania has died after being found unresponsive in the waters off Moreton Island, Queensland, during a Carnival Cruise Line voyage.
Queensland Police Service confirmed to NTD News that officers received a report at 11:46 a.m. on April 17 of an unresponsive woman floating near the Tangalooma Wrecks, a well-known collection of intentionally scuttled ships situated off Moreton Island's coast. Emergency responders attempted to revive her at the scene, but the woman was pronounced dead. "Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding her death," Queensland Police said in a statement.
Second Tragedy Just Hours Later
Later that evening, as the Carnival Splendor was sailing from Moreton Island back toward Sydney, a male passenger reportedly went overboard. According to Carnival, the guest "apparently climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard." His family, who were traveling with him, alerted ship crew to a possible missing person. A review of onboard CCTV footage confirmed what had happened."Carnival's Care Team is supporting the guest's family and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones," the cruise line said in a statement to the outlet.
In January, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard from Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam while the ship was sailing near Cuba. In that case, Coast Guard crews used the cutter William Trump and MH-60 helicopters from Air Station Clearwater to scour roughly 690 square miles over about eight hours before halting the operation when no further signs of the passenger were found.
Holland America told NTD News at the time that its family assistance team was supporting the guest’s relatives and that “our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time.”