Search underway after 20-year-old 'jumped off cruise deck' while on holiday with family

An urgent search is underway for a 20-year-old man who reportedly 'jumped off' a Royal Caribbean cruise liner during a family holiday.

The missing passenger, who has not yet been identified, went overboard on the 18-storey ship as it sailed between Cuba and the Bahamas' Great Inagua Island.

A handful of holidaymakers claimed they witnessed the incident unfold on the Liberty of the Seas in the early hours of Thursday morning (4 April).

Royal Caribbean quickly sprang into action and launched a search and rescue effort after being alerted at around 4am.

The firm worked alongside the US Coast Guard, who has now taken over the reins.

"Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time," Royal Caribbean said in a statement to the New York Post. "For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share."

Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

Traveller Bryan Sims told the publication that he had been 'hanging out' with the missing man and his brother in a hot tub on the cruise ship until 3.30am.

The onlooker explained: "It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.

"He was pretty drunk. As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.

"When we got to them, he said to his dad, 'I’ll fix this right now'. And he jumped out the window in front of us all."

Another Liberty of the Seas passenger, Deborah Morrison, described how the crew were 'alerted immediately' to the incident as 'a lot of yelling' erupted in the corridors.

"His family was horrified," she said. "Just beside themselves. I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through."

The US Coastguard said the man fell from the cruise ship around 57 miles from the Great Inagua Island, while adding that USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews were conducting the search.

Getty Images/Bruno Vincent

Passengers said there was a 'somber' mood on the Royal Caribbean ship this morning, as people 'came out of their cabins to stare at the sea, hoping to be able to aid in finding the person'.

Others have praised the travel firm for communicating updates to those onboard.

One holidaymaker also took to the Cruise Critic Community page to explain how the incident unfolded.

They wrote: "Currently on Liberty, heading back from Puerto Plata."

"Other passengers said that the lifeboats had been out around the ship all morning. Later the Captain announced that the Coast Guard was taking over the search," they added.

"At noon the Captain announced that we would be making up time and will probably only be an hour and a half late getting back to Ft. Lauderdale, we should be docking around 7:30 AM.

"My thoughts go out to all affected by this sad situation."

LADbible has contacted Royal Caribbean and the US Coast Guard for comment.