In an unsettling incident on the morning of April 4, 2024, a 20-year-old man was reported overboard from the Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship, prompting a swift search and rescue operation.
The ship was sailing 57 miles from Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas when the incident took place, amidst a four-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.
The ship, which stands 18 stories high, was navigating between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when the unidentified man took the plunge from one of the decks at 4:00 in the morning.
Eyewitnesses state that the young man, who appeared inebriated, impulsively jumped overboard after a brief disagreement with his father. This scene was observed by his brother and other passengers onboard. Bryan Sims, a fellow passenger, shared his interaction with the young man and his brother in the hot tub shortly before the incident, noting the young man’s obvious intoxication. The sudden act followed a confrontation with his father about his state. “He said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all,” Sims said, emphasizing the abrupt and severe nature of the moment.
Passengers onboard, including Deborah Morrison and Amy Phelps Fouse, recounted the immediate response as the crew and guests initiated search efforts, propelled by a collective sentiment of shock and sympathy for the family.
“I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30,” passenger Bryan Sims recalled. “It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.”
“He was pretty drunk,” Sims further added.
In a statement, the cruise line confirmed initiating search and rescue operations promptly in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, who took over the operation. Despite thorough efforts, the man had not been found at the time of reporting.
Royal Caribbean has assured support to the young man’s family, however, they are keeping the details of the incident private out of respect. The event has cast a somber tone among the passengers, with many expressing their condolences and readiness to assist in any possible way.
Incidents of passengers going overboard on cruise ships, though rare, present considerable dangers and often result in fatalities. Between 2000 and 2020, The Washington Post reported approximately 386 overboard cases among major cruise lines. In response, cruise lines have been implementing increased safety measures and surveillance systems to prevent such incidents, including high railings on decks and policies to stop serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated passengers.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s ongoing search and rescue operation involves extensive resources, including the Cutter Seneca and an HC-144 patrol plane, indicating the seriousness with which such incidents are handled.
