Featured Image Credit: Jam Press
Topics: World News, Cruise Ship
Anish Vij
Warning: This article contains images which some readers may find distressing.
A Norwegian Spirit passenger has died after falling overboard from the cruise ship.
The incident took place on the Norwegian Spirit cruise liner that went from Keelung Port in Taiwan on Sunday (4 August) to Nagasaki in Japan and South Korea’s Jeju Island, on what was supposed to be a six-day trip.
A tourist onboard appeared to capture the moment a man fell from the upper floor of the cruise liner into the sea.
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Images show a couple looking out to the sea with a child when the passenger fell from above.
The ship was said to have stopped for 40 minutes while staff activated the appropriate safety protocols.
Search boats were sent out to find the man and the maritime authorities were contacted.
Sadly, the victim's body was found in the water not long after.
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“We were sightseeing on the deck at that time, just looking at the sea, and then we heard a huge noise,” an eyewitness said.
“Then everyone looked towards us and someone realised that a passenger had fallen into the sea.”
According to reports, the man has been identified as Li from Taoyuan, Taiwan, who was 30 years old.
He was said to have boarded the ship on 4 August along with his brother.
His body was reportedly stored in a freezer before the ship docked at Keelung Port.
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An investigation into the incident has now been launched.
Norwegian Cruise Line told LADbible in a statement: "On the morning of Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, we were notified that a 30-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing from Jeju Island, South Korea to Keelung, Taiwan.
"The onboard team took immediate action to recover the guest. Upon quickly reaching him, life saving measures were taken once onboard the ship, but unfortunately, he did not survive.
"His family has been notified and are being attended to during this very difficult situation.
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"We are assisting them with the appropriate after life arrangements. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this tragic time.
"We are working closely with the appropriate authorities, and a full investigation is under way."
The Norwegian Spirit cruise ship was first launched in 1998 and was originally commissioned as the SuperStar Leo for Star Cruises, which was then only catering to the Asian market.
However, in 2004, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to rebrand the SuperStar Leo as the Norwegian Spirit to increase market share with the hopes of attracting more of an international clientele.
Since then, the cruise liners have undergone many refurbishments to keep all of their facilities up to date.
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And in 2020, the ship underwent a $100 million refurbishment. This included the addition of new dining venues, updated staterooms, and enhanced public areas.
The Norwegian Spirit usually holds around 2,000 passengers, and tourists have the option to visit the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Asia.