Identification of American College Student as Passenger Lost Overboard from World’s Largest Cruise Ship
The family of the 19-year-old passenger who fell overboard from the world’s largest cruise ship on Tuesday has identified him as Sigmund Ropich.
According to U.S. officials and a company spokesperson, he fell overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas off the coast of Cuba during a seven-day cruise that departed from Port Canaveral, Florida.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told Fox News Digital that the ship’s personnel began searching for the AWOL individual immediately and was collaborating with local authorities.
A family member told Fox News Digital that Sigmund Ropich, 19, has been identified as the individual who went awry.
Savannah Ropich told Fox News Digital that she has communicated with the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, which has collaborated with the Cuban Embassy.
Ropich stated that Cuban officials have ceased seeking at sea and have shifted their efforts to the coast and land.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told Fox News Digital that the incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters and that they are not conducting any search and rescue operations.
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Coast Guard Investigation and Concerns Surrounding Missing U.S. Citizen on Cruise Ship
Since the adolescent is a U.S. citizen, the Coast Guard will undertake an investigation upon the cruise ship’s return to the United States.
Ropich stated that her sibling was on the cruise with his closest friends, coworkers, and coworkers’ families.
“Sig is a great kid. Never gets in trouble and never caused trouble. Very intelligent, got A’s in Calculus/Physics/Government in high school with no effort. He is a college student as well and works too. He is a kind, reserved and humble kid who also loves to make people laugh,” she said. “I always call him the ‘Cool, Calm and Collected’ sibling.”
A video uploaded to TikTok by cruise passengers shows a rescue boat attempting to locate a passenger who fell overboard.
“We actually have report of a man overboard. We have slowed the ship down. We have turned around and we are heading back to the position that we had at that time. We will start a search and rescue operations,” an employee can be heard announcing over the ship’s public address system.
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Source: Fox News
