Authorities have confirmed that a young woman plunged to her death from a cruise ship close to the Channel Islands in the early hours of Saturday, October 12, 2024.
The tragic event took place on the MSC Virtuosa, an immense ship carrying over 6,000 passengers. The ship was on a journey from Portugal to England. The French Coast Guard reported that the woman, in her 20s, fell overboard just after midnight.
A distress call was sent from the MSC Virtuosa shortly after the incident near Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney. French rescue teams were rapidly mobilized, with a French Navy H160 helicopter being dispatched from Maupertus-sur-Mer, France to aid in the search and rescue operation.
The Channel Islands Air Search group, a volunteer organization, was called to assist in the search. According to a post on their Facebook page, their search aircraft, Lions’ Pride, departed from Guernsey around 2 a.m. to join the rescue effort.
The woman was found and retrieved from the water around 3 a.m. She was transported to a rescue center in Tourlaville, France, where she was declared dead upon arrival. The identity of the woman has not been released.
A passenger on the ship, who wished to be known only as Neil, recounted his experience. After alarms blared throughout the ship indicating someone had fallen overboard, Neil said, “I went up along with lots of other passengers to have a look.” He later added, “About half an hour later the cruise director told us they were looking for a missing passenger, so we would be delayed into Southampton.” Neil reported.
MSC Cruises, the operator of the Virtuosa, released a statement expressing their deep regret over the incident: “This tragic event deeply saddens us, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing further details.”
The incident is currently under investigation by French and British authorities. The MSC Virtuosa, registered in Malta, is one of the world’s largest cruise ships, measuring over 1,000 feet in length and able to accommodate more than 6,300 passengers and 1,700 crew members. It arrived in Southampton, England on Saturday morning, where officials continued their investigation into the woman’s death.
Those who saw the event unfold were left in a solemn mood. Passengers were encouraged to remember the young woman in their thoughts. The event served as a sobering reminder of how a seemingly ordinary night at sea can take a sudden and devastating turn.