Coast Guard ends search for woman who went overboard from cruise ship near Cuba
The U.S. Coast Guard has ended its search for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard early Thursday morning from a Holland America cruise ship that was sailing off Cuba.
The agency said in a statement that crews searched for the woman, who has not been named, for about eight hours, covering an area of more than 690 square miles.
The woman went into the ocean as the ship, the Neiuw Statendam, was sailing about 40 miles northeast of the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago off Cuba’s northern coast, the Coast Guard said.
Holland America said in a statement Thursday that the ship’s captain and crew began searching for the woman immediately on hearing she had gone overboard.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that while sailing in waters north of Cuba, a guest on Nieuw Statendam went overboard earlier today,” the company said.
The incident forced the ship to cancel its planned stop in Key West, which was scheduled for Friday. The Nieuw Statendam left Fort Lauderdale on Saturday for a seven-day cruise of the eastern Caribbean, the company said.
“Our family assistance team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts are with the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time,” Holland America said.
The Coast Guard said the search was conducted by the crew of the Cutter William Trump and helicopter crews from Air Station Clearwater.
