76-Year-Old Tourist Missing After Falling from Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean

Search and rescue teams are combing the Atlantic Ocean for a missing cruise passenger who fell overboard off the coast of Tenerife, Spain.

The missing traveler, a 76-year-old British man whose name has not been released, went overboard from the TUI Marella Explorer 2 on Thursday, Nov. 27, according to local outlets El Dia and Voz Populi, as well as U.K. newspaper Metro.

He has not been seen since he entered the water under still-unexplained circumstances, El Dia reported. The incident took place roughly 16 nautical miles from Punta de Teno.

Authorities began searching for the man on Thursday and confirmed that operations would continue into Friday. A spokesperson for the Spanish coastguard told Metro that the man is 76 years old and that the search, which started on Thursday, was resumed at first light on Friday

TUI group said in a statement that crew members witnessed a guest enter the water while the ship was sailing toward La Gomera. The company expressed condolences to the man’s loved ones and said its care team is assisting the family and working closely with local authorities while the search continues.

Following the emergency, the captain of the approximately 800-foot vessel — which had been traveling from Madeira to the Canary Islands — halted the ship and initiated the standard “man overboard” protocol, according to El Dia and Voz Populi.

That response included reviewing onboard camera footage, performing circular search maneuvers and deploying marker rafts. The ongoing operation involves two specialized vessels and an emergency helicopter, local reports added.

Authorities have not provided further public updates on the search.