Shocking new details have emerged after a 76-year-old tourist vanished in the Atlantic Ocean following a fall from a cruise ship near Tenerife.
A massive air-and-sea rescue effort is underway after the British passenger went overboard the Marella Explorer 2, a TUI-operated cruise ship, on Thursday morning, November 27. Spanish authorities say the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. when the ship was about 16.5 miles northwest of Punta de Teno.
The vessel, which was traveling to La Gomera as part of a seven-day Canary Islands itinerary, immediately stopped and activated full “man overboard” emergency procedures.
The search has since grown into a large coordinated mission involving the Helimer 201 helicopter, the Sasemar 103 aircraft, and two rescue vessels, Salvamar Menkalinan and Salvamar Mizar. The Civil Guard’s Cuco helicopter has also joined the effort, along with the Río Guadiato patrol boat from La Palma.
Despite the extensive two-day search, the man still has not been found, and authorities have not yet determined how he ended up in the water.
The cruise line confirmed that the passenger was witnessed entering the ocean. In a statement, a spokesperson said, “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 difficult time.”
The spokesperson added that the company’s care team is assisting the family and that they are cooperating closely with local authorities.
According to reports from El Dia, Voz Populi, and Metro, the circumstances surrounding the fall remain unknown.
The Marella Explorer 2, registered in Malta and built in 1995, features 14 decks, an open-air cinema, multiple restaurants and bars, and a Broadway-style theater. The cruise departed Tenerife on November 21 with planned stops in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Madeira, and La Gomera.
After the incident, the captain stopped the 800-foot ship, launched marker rafts, reviewed CCTV footage, and carried out circular search maneuvers. A German-flagged yacht also responded to the distress call.
The search is ongoing, and officials have not released any new information about how the 76-year-old passenger fell overboard.
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