Major update in hunt for Brit who plunged 100ft from cruise ship as rescuers as captain admits search is ‘losing hope’
RESCUERS in Croatia are working tirelessly to find a missing Brit who fell from a cruise ship – but time is running out.
Croatian authorities on Friday said “a young Brit” from the Royal Caribbean‘s Explorer of the Seas ship went missing after he plunged 100ft from the vessel’s decks.
He is believed to be a man on a seven-day Greece-Croatia route that took off on August 3 before he went overboard.
The search operation was extended yesterday by the National Center for Search and Rescue at Sea.
Rescuers explained that survival in these conditions was more likely due to the warm water – and they vowed not to give up.
But Sanjin Dumanic, the president of the Association of Croatian Associations of Sea Captains told national broadcaster HTV that hope is dwindling.
Dumanic said: “Since the man has been in the sea for over 40 hours, we are already losing hope.
“We would all like him to be found, but 40 hours is a very long time and we are losing hope that this search will end successfully”.
The missing Brit fell into the Adriatic sea from a height of more than 100ft at around 4.30am local time.
It is unknown whether he suffered an injury during the dangerous fall.
Authorities had initially extended the search by around 12 hours as the warm sea was 24 degrees.
They said: “Survival in these conditions is more than 12 hours, and the search takes twice as long, at least 24 hours.”
Several ships in the area reportedly joined the frantic search after an alarm was raised on the vessel.
This comes after a Brit who vanished after a trip to Thailand has been found safe following a mysterious two-week search that spanned 5,000 miles.
Simon Robinson‘s sister, who had launched an appeal to find him, said the 27-year-old called her last night to confirm he’s okay.
Sarah Robinson Dale told The Sun today: “Simon rang me and apologised. He’s okay thank God.
“He didn’t say [where he was]. I’m just so happy he is okay.
“I didn’t ask if he was coming back. I was just so relieved to hear his voice.”
In a post on Facebook, Sarah said Simon was “sorry for worrying everyone” adding: “Thank you to everyone who has shared and supported us.”