British Passenger Missing in Croatia

A British passenger has gone missing after reportedly falling overboard from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas, during the early hours of Friday morning. The ship was on a seven-day voyage around Greece and Croatia, having departed on August 3. Croatian authorities confirmed the incident, stating that a young British man has not been seen since the fall. Witness accounts from passengers, including Nicole Bullock, describe the alarming moment when an emergency message was broadcasted at approximately 3:40 AM, alerting everyone to the situation. Bullock shared her experience on social media, expressing her concern as she observed the ongoing rescue efforts from her balcony. The search operation was complicated by the cancellation of a scheduled port stop in Zadar, as the Croatian Coast Guard mobilized to assist in the search. The National Center for Coordination of Search and Rescue at Sea in Rijeka (MRCC) has been actively conducting search operations in the Adriatic Sea, particularly around the Vis archipelago and the remote island of Jabuka. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is aware of the situation and is in contact with Royal Caribbean, offering support to British nationals abroad. This incident follows a tragic event in May, where a passenger died after jumping overboard from Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas shortly after departing from Florida. The Coast Guard pronounced the individual deceased shortly after the fall.