Man Jumps Overboard From Carnival Cruise Ship – Third Person Overboard In Three Months

The U.S. Coast Guard searched for a man who jumped overboard from a cruise ship Saturday as it approached Florida.

According to the Coast Guard, the man jumped from the Carnival Cruise Line ship Mardi Gras just after midnight, about 55 miles east of Port Canaveral.

A passenger on the massive ship reported that people were scrambling on the cruiseliner’s deck early Saturday morning as officials from the Mardi Gras and nearby cruise ship Elation began their search for the overboard man.

The Coast Guard responded with two cutters and an airplane to search for the 43-year-old man. The cruise ship Elation also participated in the search, said Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef.

“The Carnival Care Team is supporting the guest’s family,” said Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his family.”

The third of its kind incident to befall the cruise company in the past three months.

Last month, the body of a man who had jumped off the Carnival Horizon was recovered in the Caribbean Sea.

In February, a woman jumped to her death off the Carnival Valor into the Gulf of Mexico after she was confronted by ship security following an altercation in a hot tub.

Lupoli said the Coast Guard released the ship from the search efforts and continued to Port Canaveral. It will continue sailing as scheduled.