Update, October 39, 2013: Authorities found CCTV footage showing that the man jumped overboard.
(12:28 p.m.) — An elderly man disappeared from Sun Princess yesterday while it sailed up the Kimberley Coast in Western Australia on its way to Darwin. Extensive searches onboard and at sea have found no trace of the man.
Sun Princess’ crew conducted an extensive search for the man onboard after his wife reported him missing, Princess Cruises told Cruise Critic.
“Public address announcements were made onboard but there was no response. A missing person’s procedure was initiated and Sun Princess turned around to retrace the ship’s course. Search and rescue at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority were also informed,” Princess’ Lorraine Sadowski said.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the ship twice retraced its route and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority conducted an aerial search, but called it off after medical authorities determined the man could not have survived falling off the ship.
The missing man, a 73-year-old Australian, may have been suffering from dementia the Daily Telegraph reported. Princess would not confirm this saying as policy it does not release details about passengers.
Princess also said there is no CCTV footage of the man falling overboard, adding the line is cooperating with local authorities in Darwin with their investigation.
–by Dori Saltzman, News Editor
