Cruise passengers left ‘shaking’ after 5 our bodies present in Mediterranean Sea
Passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess were left shaking after five bodies were pulled from the western Mediterranean Sea during a three-hour recovery mission, with crew offering counselling to those on board
It happened near Spain
Five bodies were recovered from the sea during a three-hour rescue operation by crew aboard a cruise ship. Passengers on the Sapphire Princess were informed the vessel was changing course after an orange object – later identified as a lifejacket – was spotted in the western Mediterranean Sea at 6pm European Summer Time on April 21.
Video footage captures the body of a man, wearing a purple top and black shorts, being hauled into a lifeboat, shrouded with canvas, and transferred onto the vessel. Medical personnel examined the body before transporting him to the ship’s hold, with the cruise liner resuming its journey at 6:59pm.
However, at 7:47pm another orange lifejacket was sighted, and a second body was brought aboard. Clips show three additional bodies being retrieved from the water before the captain confirmed the recovery of five bodies was complete.
A passenger, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “It was very sad to watch. I was shaking inside. The crew were very good at keeping everyone calm, but everyone was shocked. From what I saw I think they were migrants. The crew treated them with respect and we were all offered counselling.”, reports the Mirror.
The cruise liner was positioned between the Spanish coast and North Africa, docking at Cartagena, Spain on April 22. The vessel, carrying over three thousand passengers, is on a fourteen-day voyage which set sail from a port near Rome, Italy on April 19 and is due to arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 3.
The passenger, who initially shared the tale with Talk to the Press, stated: “I’ve been on lots of cruises and I’ve never seen this before. There was someone on board who said they’ve been on 60 cruises and never seen anything like this.”
The five people rescued from the sea are thought to be migrants.
Princess Cruises confirmed: “Princess Cruises confirms that on April 21, Sapphire Princess, while at sea en route to Cartagena, Spain, observed an orange inflatable lifejacket in the water.
The vessel immediately altered course to investigate and, upon arrival on scene, deployed its Fast Rescue Boat.
“Five deceased individuals were recovered by the Sapphire Princess crew members and coordinated efforts with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC). The individuals involved are not guests or crew of Sapphire Princess.
“We extend our sincere condolences for this loss and are grateful to our crew for their swift response and efforts to render assistance.”
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