Major hunt after man ‘fell overboard’ on cruise ship off coast of Ramsgate
A MAJOR hunt is under way after a man “fell overboard” on a cruise ship off the coast of Ramsgate.
The RNLI and Coastguard have launched a huge search operation this morning after reports the person fell into the English Channel off the east Kent coast.
He had been on board the German cruiseliner Aida Perla making its way from Hamburg to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The RNLI said they sent out two all-weather lifeboats with the Ramsgate crew getting a call at 8:20am before the Dover crew launched 15 minutes later.
HM Coastguard said: “HM Coastguard is coordinating the search for a man reported overboard from a passenger ship off Ramsgate on 22 October.
“HM Coastguard was alerted at about 8.55am.
“The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter has been sent from Lydd alongside a Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats from Ramsgate and Dover.”