Search for man who fell overboard on cruise ship suspended

The United States Coast Guard has suspended their search for an American who fell overboard on a Carnival cruise ship on Monday.

Rescuers have called off the search for Ronnie Peale, a 35-year-old man from Virginia who disappeared from a Carnival Cruise Lines ship off the east coast of Florida.

Peale was a passenger on the Carnival Magic, which had embarked Thursday, May 25 on a 5-day cruise from Norfolk, Virginia to the Bahamas.

Around 6.30pm on Monday, Peale’s companion notified cruise ship personnel that he was missing.

Crew members then reviewed security footage – which captured the moment Peale leaned over the balcony in his stateroom before falling into the water around 4.00am that morning.

The cruise personnel then immediately notified the Coast Guard, who began search and rescue efforts.

‘The Seventh Coast Guard District dispatched multiple search and rescue assets as soon as we were notified of the missing person,’ Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper said. ‘Our command center watchstanders provided search patterns to cutter crews and air crews who actively searched from Monday through Wednesday evening.’

Maps posted by the Coast Guard showed rescue crews combed over an area about of about 5,171 square miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.

The Coast Guard deployed aircraft and a cutter to the region about 186 miles off the east coast. They were also helped by nearby ships and aircraft from the US Navy.

But after searching for over 60 hours with no sign of Peale, the Coast Guard called off the search on Thursday.

‘The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly,’ Lieutenant Commander Hooper said. ‘We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr Peale’s family and friends.’

The cruise line said the Carnival Magic returned to port in Norfolk, Virginia after the incident.

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