Elderly Couple Missing Aboard Cruise Ship Carnival Paradise … Presumed to have Gone Overboard
An elderly couple has gone missing aboard the Carnival Paradise that set sail from Long Beach, CA. A 90 year old man and his 79 year old wife were last seen Tuesday, January 13, 2009 aboard the Carnival Paradise. They are presumed to have gone overboard. The couple’s names and hometowns have not been released. Their cabin door was double locked from the inside with a “do not disturb” sign hanging on the door handle. It is also being reported that the door to the balcony from their room was unlocked.
A statement released overnight by Carnival says the 90-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife were aboard the Carnival Paradise when it set sail from Long Beach, Calif., on Monday but could not be found when the ship returned Friday.
“Their cabin door was double locked from the inside with a do not disturb sign on the handle and the door leading from the cabin to the balcony was unlocked,” the statement says. “The couple’s personal belongings remained inside the cabin.”
Carnival says all proper authorities have been notified, including the U.S. Coast Guard and FBI, and the cruise line is providing full assistance.
The Coast Guard has suspended the search for the elderly couple who are believed to have fallen overboard.
The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for an elderly couple believed to have fallen off a cruise ship between Long Beach and northern Mexico.
The aerial search for the 90-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife was halted after officials determined that their chances of surviving in the water were slim, said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Epperson.
“Factoring in their age and weights, their survivability in 59 degrees water was about 4 to 6 hours,” he said. “The last time they were seen was 84 hours ago.”