Body of Missing Woman Who Fell Overboard from Pacific Explorer Cruise Ship Recovered

Traveling on a cruise ship can be fun, but sometimes, the unthinkable can happen, as a young woman aboard the Pacific Explorer soon learned. Authorities reported that the body of the 23-year-old woman who fell overboard from a cruise ship off the southern coast of Australia was reportedly recovered.

What Happened

The Pacific Explorer cruise ship was headed to Kangaroo Island on the South Australian Coast. On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the ship, which has a capacity for 2,000 passengers, set sail from Victoria to Port Melbourne for a four-night return trip.

Around midnight, the Pacific Explorer’s crew learned that a young woman who was a passenger on the cruise ship was missing when the craft was about 44 miles off the shore of Cape Jaffa.

Rescue Attempts: Body of Missing Woman Who Fell Overboard from Pacific Explorer Cruise Ship Recovered

Sadly, the female passenger’s body was discovered in the water in South Australia just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday after two helicopters joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-coordinated search and rescue aircraft to search for the missing 23-year-old woman.

The cruise liner zigzagged across the search area, which spanned over 55 nautical miles of ocean, as it also took part in the search. Heavy winds and choppy waters were also said to have hindered visibility and rescue attempts at the time before the woman’s body was discovered.

Cruise Cancelled

Following this incident, the trip to Kangaroo Island was canceled, and the Pacific Explorer cruise ship returned to Melbourne. The cruise ship company that runs the Pacific Explorer also stated that the remaining guests and the family member of the deceased were said to have been severely impacted by the ordeal.

Statement from Carnival Australia

A spokesperson said:

“This tragic discovery comes after an overnight search and rescue operation. We continue to provide care and assistance to the family member this guest was traveling with and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones.

We thank all involved who supported this distressing and challenging search operation.”

Who Is to Blame for This Incident?

Victoria police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, and details of the findings have not been released to the public. Other guests reported that the ship was being rocked to and fro because of poor weather conditions. Bad weather conditions can thwart rescue helicopters and other rescue aircraft coordinated when someone is reported missing, so we can’t always blame human error when a man or woman overboard cannot be rescued.

It was the duty of the cruise ship’s staff to ensure the safety of passengers at all times so that the company might be responsible for the tragic outcome.

Need Legal Aid for a Man Overboard Case? Ehline Law Is Here to Help!

Were you deeply impacted after losing someone at sea in bad weather and strong winds? Have you or a loved one been injured in a boat or ship accident off the coast of Cape Jaffa resulting from someone else’s negligence? You might be entitled to recompense after a four-night return voyage or other cruises where you or a loved one have fallen overboard.

Injured crew members aboard or passengers should contact us today to book your free consultation to discuss the specifics of your personal injury case!