During a three-hour operation, five bodies were recovered from the sea by the crew of a luxury cruise liner.
Passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess were informed of a change in course after a lifejacket was sighted in the western Mediterranean Sea on April 21 at 6 pm local time.
Video footage captured the retrieval of a male individual, dressed in a purple top and black shorts, being lifted onto the ship after being found at sea. Medical professionals attended to the deceased before the ship resumed its journey at 6:59 pm.
Subsequently, at 7:47 pm, another life jacket was spotted, leading to the recovery of a second body. Additional videos show three more bodies being brought aboard before the captain announced the successful retrieval of all five deceased individuals.
A witness on board, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed sorrow over the tragic events, highlighting the crew’s efforts to maintain calmness among passengers. The witness speculated that the deceased individuals could have been migrants and praised the crew for their respectful handling of the situation, mentioning that counseling services were offered to all on board.
The cruise ship was positioned between Spain and North Africa and made a stop in Cartagena, Spain, on April 22. With over three thousand passengers, the ship is on a fortnight-long voyage that commenced near Rome, Italy, on April 19 and is expected to reach Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 3.
The eyewitness, who shared their account with Talk to the Press, mentioned the unprecedented nature of the incident, stating that even seasoned cruisers were taken aback by the events.
The five deceased individuals recovered from the sea are believed to be migrants.
Princess Cruises released a statement confirming the events, stating that the crew of the Sapphire Princess, while en route to Cartagena, Spain, discovered the lifejacket in the water and promptly initiated the recovery operation.
The statement continued, noting that coordination with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center led to the recovery of the deceased individuals. Princess Cruises extended condolences for the loss and commended the crew for their swift response and assistance efforts.
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