Shocking information has been released after a 76-year-old tourist went missing after falling from a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
A massive air-and-sea rescue mission is underway after the British man went overboard the Marella Explorer 2, run by tour company TUI, off the coast of Tenerife.
The passenger vanished on Thursday morning (November 27), with Spanish officials confirming the alarm was raised at 9:48AM when the ship was roughly 16.5 miles northwest of Punta de Teno.
The vessel, which had been en route to La Gomera as part of a seven-day Canary Islands tour, immediately halted and launched full “man overboard” emergency procedures.
So far, the search effort has included the Helimer 201 helicopter, the Sasemar 103 aircraft, and rescue vessels Salvamar Menkalinan and Salvamar Mizar.
The Civil Guard’s Cuco helicopter has also taken part in rotating shifts, and the Río Guadiato patrol boat from La Palma has joined the operation.
Despite an intense two-day search, the man has not yet been found, and how he ended up in the water remains a mystery.
The 76-year-old British man went overboard from the Marella Explorer 2. Credit: Education Images / Getty
Cruise line confirms passenger was seen entering the water
In a statement, a spokesperson for the cruise line 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," per PEOPLE.
They added that their “dedicated care team is supporting the family, providing assistance and comfort.” They also confirmed that they are working “closely with local authorities” and will “continue to offer every possible support.”
Reports from El Dia, Voz Populi, and Metro note that the passenger has not been seen since falling into the Atlantic under circumstances that are still unknown.
Officials have not yet revealed how the man ended up in the water, and the search for him remains ongoing. Credit: Finnbarr Webster / Getty
The Marella Explorer 2, which is registered in Malta and built in 1995, boasts 14 decks with multiple bars, restaurants, a Broadway-style theatre, and an open-air cinema.
The cruise had departed Tenerife on November 21 with stops planned in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Madeira, and La Gomera, The Sun reported.
Following the incident, the captain stopped the 800-foot-long ship and activated the man overboard protocol, which included reviewing CCTV footage, launching marker rafts, and conducting circular search manoeuvres. A German-flagged yacht also reportedly responded to the distress call.
The search remains ongoing, and officials have not yet released any new information about how or why the 76-year-old passenger fell from the ship.