Carnival: Tragic update after elderly man goes overboard cruise ship, vanishes into waters off Queensland

The search for an elderly man who went missing from a cruise ship in Queensland has been suspended after a three day operation.

The man, aged in his 70s, vanished into waters north-east of Cape Moreton on Friday after he was reported overboard from a Carnival Splendor cruise ship.

His family raised the alarm when they were unable to locate him onboard the ship. Staff were then alerted to his disappearance.

“Carnival confirmed on Saturday that Carnival Splendor was assisting authorities search for a guest who apparently climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard as the ship was sailing from Moreton Island towards Sydney overnight,” a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson told 7NEWS at the time.

“The male guest was travelling with family who alerted the ship’s crew of a possible missing person and a review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action.”

Queensland Police confirmed on Tuesday they had suspended the search, which had deployed multiple emergency services to try locate the man.

“An extensive search and rescue operation continued for three days,” a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said.

“Water police were assisted by AMSA, POLAIR, QG Air, Surf Life Saving Queensland Helicopters, Marine Rescue Jacobs Well and North Stradbroke Island, Redcliffe Coast Guard, merchant ships, the cruise line as well as commercial aviation and marine vessels.

“Officers continue to be in contact with the man’s family who have been advised of this update.”

The man’s disappearance is the second incident to hit the cruiseliner within hours after a passenger on the same ship died while snorkelling off Moreton Island.

The Tasmanian woman, 67, was holidaying on the Carnival Splendor when she became distressed in waters at a popular snorkelling spot near Tangalooma shipwreck on April 17.

Police are investigation the woman’s death.