After eight hours, a search has been suspended for a 77-year-old cruise passenger who went overboard on Thursday, Jan. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The ship was the Nieuw Statendam, a Holland America Line cruise ship that sailed out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Dec. 27 for a seven-day New Year’s-themed cruise, according to ABC News. The ship’s scheduled Jan. 2 Key West stop was canceled due to the search.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today,” Holland American Line said in a statement shared with ABC News on Thursday. “Our family assistance team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Here’s what we know.
Who fell overboard from a Holland America cruise ship on New Year’s Day?
As of Friday, Jan. 2, the name of the 77-year-old woman has not been released.
Can you survive? How easy is it to fall overboard on a cruise ship?
Where did a woman go overboard from a Holland America cruise ship?
The woman fell while the ship was about 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, according to a U.S. Coast Guard post on X.
The Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter crew and the crew of the Cutter William Trump assisted in the search, the Coast Guard said, which ultimately covered more than 690 square miles.
By 5:30 p.m., the search was suspended “pending the development of new information,” the Coast Guard said.
What is the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship?
Introduced in December 2018, the 975-foot-long, 99,500-ton Nieuw Statendam was Holland America Line’s second Pinnacle Class ship.
The ship carries 2,692 guests and features live shows, casino gambling and multiple restaurants.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coast Guard suspends search for Florida cruise passenger who went overboard
