TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 43-year-old man went overboard a Carnival cruise ship that was headed for Port Canaveral early Saturday morning, according to the cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the incident to 8 On Your Side through a statement, saying an adult male guest jumped from the Carnival Mardi Gras early Saturday morning.
The ship was making its return to Port Canaveral at the time of the incident.
Carnival said that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified and is searching for the man. The crew helped the Coast Guard search until the ship was released.
“The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family,” the cruise line said. “Mardi Gras has arrived to Port Canaveral and will be sailing its next itinerary.”
Hours after the incident, officials from the U.S. Guard told 8 On your side it had several search vessels in the water looking for the man. An aerial unit was also in operation.
While search and rescue crews were unsuccessful in their attempt to locate the man so far, the search is said to continue overnight.
According to a report by TMZ, another passenger learned of the incident after two teens screamed that someone jumped overboard.
A Coast Guard official told WFLA the cause of the incident is still under investigation.
