On March 16, a family cruise meant to celebrate a birthday turned into a daunting mystery when 23-year-old Scottish social work student, Liam Jones, reportedly fell overboard from the MSC Euribia and disappeared. The cruise, which started in Southampton, England, was planned as a seven-day voyage across Europe, with stops in Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. However, it ended in tragedy for the Jones family.
The last confirmed contact with Jones on board was by his sister, after he texted his wife, Sophia Mcphee, who was not on the ship, about feeling seasick. This turned out to be the final known contact with Jones, leaving his family with several unresolved questions. “I feel so lost. He’s just … gone,” Mcphee, 20, told the Daily Record, expressing the profound sorrow of losing her partner. “I’m never going to see him again. I’m devastated.”
The couple bid their final in-person goodbye on March 14, as Jones left Dundee for Glasgow to join his family for the cruise.
Mcphee, left dealing with the stark absence of her husband, detailed her futile efforts to obtain information from MSC Cruises, the company operating the Euribia. Despite her attempts, she was met with silence, contributing to her distress over the unclear circumstances of her husband’s disappearance.
An MSC Cruises representative revealed in response to the incident that a passenger had indeed fallen overboard on March 16 while the ship was heading for Hamburg, and the situation was immediately reported to the relevant authorities. The police in Southampton, acting on behalf of the coroner, carried out an onboard investigation to figure out the events leading to Jones’ disappearance. “We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time,” the spokesperson stated, reflecting a solemn acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation.
The MSC Euribia, a ship capable of carrying over 6,327 passengers and spanning over 1,092 feet in length, turned into the focus of a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions. Hampshire Constabulary took the lead in the inquiries following the ship’s return to the UK. The incident raised questions about the cruise line’s safety record, considering the infrequency of overboard incidents, but the significant few that do happen.
In a personal tribute, Paula Devlin, Jones’ sister, remembered him as “the purest soul and best friend a sister could ask for,” emphasizing the immense personal loss experienced by those closest to Jones.
As the investigations proceed under the supervision of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, along with French authorities due to the incident’s location in French waters, the grieving family is seeking answers. The situation’s complexity is heightened by the involvement of multiple jurisdictions and the challenging nature of maritime investigations.
The MSC Euribia, now marked by this tragic event, continues its operations, with the cruise line maintaining a stance of respect for the family’s privacy and refraining from further public comments. The price for the Northern Europe tour, as listed on the company’s website, starts at $950 per person, but for the Jones family, and particularly for Sophia Mcphee, the actual cost of this journey has been substantially higher.
