Woman dies after falling from cruise ship near Channel Islands

A woman has died after falling from a cruise ship in the Channel Islands, according to reports.

The victim died as the ship departed Portugal for England, officials said.

The French coast guard received a distress signal from the 18-deck ship MSC Virtuosa, saying a woman in her 20s was near Drowned in water north of Les Casquets Rockswest of Alderney, shortly after midnight Saturday, according to The Guardian.

A French Navy H160 helicopter based in Maupertus, Normandy, was dispatched for the rescue operation, the outlet reported.

“Channel Islands Air Search was called out this morning and requested to assist Joburg MRCC in the search for a man aboard the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship north of Les Caskets,” the voluntary Channel Islands Air Search Group said in a statement. ” post on Facebook“Lions Pride departed Guernsey at 0200 hours and set course for the search area.”

The group stood down after the doomed woman was pulled from the water at around 3 a.m. local time, media outlets reported.

A navy helicopter airlifted the woman to a rescue center in Tourlaville, where she was declared dead.

Those on board were asked to pray for their fellow passengers, A cruise passenger, who identified himself only as “Neil”, told the BBC,

“I went up to have a look along with several other passengers,” he said.

“About half an hour later the cruise director told us they were looking for a missing passenger, so we would be delayed in Southampton,” the panicked passenger said.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time,” ship owner MSC Cruises told The Guardian in a statement. “Out of respect for their privacy, we will not provide further details.”