A cruise passenger who disappeared sent a haunting final message to a member of crew as they tried to track her down.
Jessica Collins, 47, became the latest traveller to go missing while on a cruise ship after she disembarked the Carnival Horizon during its scheduled stop on the Caribbean island of Bonaire earlier this month.
Collins was just four days into her holiday on the cruise ship when she packed up most of her belongings and left the ship, with crew frantically questioning why she didn't come back aboard.
This recent case has already sparked global interest, particularly as it comes just a couple of months after Netflix's documentary on Amy Bradley, who famously went missing on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship back in 1998 and was never seen again.
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In a statement to PEOPLE, Carnival Cruise said: “She debarked with all her belongings in her backpack and left a cash gratuity for the stateroom attendant with a thank you note."
They also added that she had a message to the crew, saying: "The guest subsequently texted a member of our Care Team who had been trying to reach her saying she was safe and did not want to be found or contacted again.
“While we are cooperating with local authorities this guest appears to have taken deliberate action to be alone and on her own.”
Despite Collins' suggestion that she was safe to the crew member, police have spoken to a family member and there is insufficient evidence to prove that is true.
Her location could be traced up until approximately 3.15 p.m. on Wednesday 17 September, after which all traces ceased.
The Carnival Cruise statement continued: “Local authorities are working with the Public Entity of Bonaire, the Port Authority, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Carnival Cruise Line Security, the ship's security chief, and other partners. They are also in direct contact with Carnival Corporation and the U.S. authorities.”
Bonaire Police have released an image of Jessica to the public, in which she can be seen wearing a bright shirt and jean shorts, as well as a grey backpack.
Given that the Caribbean island is approximately just 111 square miles and it takes around four hours to drive around the entire island, you would hope that police in the area would be able to locate Jessica before long.
However, it is now six days since she went missing and it seems as if nobody has seen or heard from her since.
Bonaire authorities have said anyone with information about Collins can report it through an anonymous tip line at 9310 or by contacting local police at 715 8000.
Topics: Carnival Cruise Line, Cruise Ship, Travel
James Moorhouse