A 73-year-old man from Melbourne is missing and presumed dead after reportedly going overboard from the Disney Wonder in the early hours of Saturday morning. The cruise ship was travelling toward Auckland through the Tasman Sea.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m., according to multiple Australian media reports.
Incident Details
Crew members undertook a rescue effort lasting approximately five hours, which included the use of thermal imaging equipment, but the man was not located.
Passengers onboard the Disney Wonder noticed that the ship changed course mid-journey, around noon on Saturday.
Channel 7 News Australia posted this comment from passenger Mitch Talbot,
“The captain came on and updated the boat and basically stated that there was someone, a passenger had fallen overboard … (but) that they were unable to find them.”
Victoria Police confirmed that a report will be prepared for the coroner. They stated that foul play is not presently suspected, and investigations are ongoing.
The Disney Wonder is continuing to New Zealand and will arrive a day later than its scheduled November 25 arrival date.
Disney hit with another possible suicide
Reports indicate that the man jumped overboard. This would be the third suicide associated with Disney since early October, when Summer Equitz jumped from the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. Shortly after, Matthew Cohn also jumped from the Bay Lake Tower nearby.
Sadly, the Disney name keeps trending with the term “suicide.”
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