A woman in her 20s has tragically lost her life after going overboard from the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship near the Channel Islands, according to rescue services.
An emergency alert was issued around 02:00 BST, prompting a search operation north of the Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney. The French search and rescue team responded quickly, and the woman was retrieved from the sea by a helicopter crew. Unfortunately, she was later pronounced dead by medical personnel.
One passenger, who identified himself only as Neil, recounted the events to the BBC, stating that an alarm sounded three times to indicate someone had fallen overboard. He described how passengers were asked to pray for their missing fellow traveler. “I went up along with many others to see what was happening,” Neil said. “About half an hour later, the cruise director informed us that they were searching for a missing passenger, and our arrival in Southampton would be delayed.”
MSC Cruises, the ship’s operator, released a statement confirming the incident. “A guest aboard MSC Virtuosa went overboard on October 12 while the ship was en route to Southampton. The body was later recovered with the assistance of the authorities. We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. In respect of their privacy, we will not provide further details.”
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death is being conducted by French police. A plane from Channel Islands Air Search, along with lifeboat crews from Alderney and France, and a helicopter crew based near Cherbourg, were deployed to assist in the search.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed their involvement, stating, “It has been reported that the woman went overboard from the MSC Virtuosa during the early hours… and subsequently died.”
The MSC Virtuosa, a Maltese-flagged vessel measuring 331 meters (1,086 feet) in length and 43 meters (141 feet) in width, has the capacity to accommodate up to 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew members. Built in France in 2020, the ship features 19 decks and is currently docked at Southampton, having arrived around 08:00 from Cartagena Port in Spain.
