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Yesterday — 19 April 2026Main stream

Woman Dies Snorkeling, Hours Later Man Goes Overboard on Carnival Cruise Ship

19 April 2026 at 18:24

An air and sea search has been called off for a missing guest who went overboard during a cruise from Australia, likely confirming a second death onboard within hours.

A large Carnival cruise ship sails on a calm ocean under a clear blue sky. The vessel features multiple decks, a distinctive red and blue funnel, and various water slides and amenities visible on the top deck, showcasing its vibrant Australian offerings.
(Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

A man is believed to have climbed the railings and jumped from Carnival Splendor, according to reviewed CCTV footage.

The man’s family had earlier reported him missing. The incident came just a few hours after a woman died while snorkeling at Moreton Island, off the Queensland coast, during a port call.

Neither of the two guests has been officially named, and the incidents are not related, the cruise line said.

Search and Rescue Operation Found No Trace of Missing Guest

Vector field plot with arrows in blue, green, and yellow showing flow direction and magnitude—curves intersect and branch out across a white background. A thin red border outlines the image, evoking urgency like a man overboard alert.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducted a search and rescue operation lasting approximately 16 hours but called it off in the early evening without success. The man is now presumed dead.

“Following an intensive air and sea search involving multiple assets, the missing person was not located and AMSA has now released all assets from tasking,” a Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson said.

The cruise line also issued a response, “All appropriate authorities have been alerted and Carnival will assist in their investigation upon the ship’s return to Sydney. Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Carnival Cruise Line stated it believes the act was deliberate. The guest “climbed over the safety railing and jumped overboard. A review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action.”

Hours Earlier, a Guest Died While Snorkeling

The man overboard alert sounded just before 2 a.m. on April 18. The approximately 3,000-guest Carnival Splendor returned to Sydney on Sunday, where it is homeported year-round.

Just a few hours before the overboard incident, a 67-year-old female guest from Tasmania experienced difficulty while snorkeling at Moreton Island. She was pulled from the water but did not respond to resuscitation efforts.

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