An elderly man aboard a Disney cruise sailing off the coast of Australia is presumed dead after he reportedly jumped overboard early Saturday morning, according to local authorities.
According to the New York Post, Victoria Police said the 73-year-old passenger, whose name has not been released, vanished around 4:30 a.m. while traveling on the Disney Wonder.
The ship was crossing the Tasman Sea at the time — a notoriously rough stretch of water between New Zealand and Australia’s southeast coast.
Once crew members realized the man was missing, the ship turned around to launch an extensive search-and-rescue effort. The operation lasted more than five hours and involved both ship personnel and outside authorities. Despite the exhaustive search, no body was recovered.
Police later told local outlets it is “understood the man died after he jumped from a cruise liner into waters.” Officials are not treating the incident as suspicious.
Passengers described a heavy atmosphere on board following the announcement.
Mitch Talbot, who was also aboard the ship and did not know the victim, said the mood quickly shifted.
“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,” Talbot told 7 News. He said the remainder of the trip felt “somber” and “just a bit eerie.”
The Disney Wonder departed Melbourne on Nov. 20 for a five-day, one-way sailing to Auckland. The voyage is among the last Disney Cruise Line trips scheduled in the region for the foreseeable future.
Disney’s final cruise departing from Australia is set to leave Sydney on Jan. 30 for a one-way route to Honolulu.
