Man overboard on MSC cruise ship ends in tragedy

An elderly cruise ship guest has passed away after going overboard a MSC cruise ship. The man, in his 70s and a US citizen, fell off MSC World Europa while it was docked in Valetta, Malta. 

The ship was docked at Pier 1 and at wharf 2 when the incident occured.

The man overboard signal was sounded around 4.30 pm local time. The 72-year old American resident was quickly rescued from the water by a life raft and received medical assistance at the scene.

However, he was pronounced dead after being transferred to hospital, according to an update by local authorities. It is unknown how the passenger went overboard. Local Magistrate Charmaine Galea ordered an investigation, which is still ongoing. 

Recapping the events to Cruise Radio, a couple on board told us that a short time after the overboard, guests were informed the scheduled departure from Valetta was delayed. The ship finally departed around three hours later.

Marine tracking shows that the ship departed Valletta just before 8:00 p.m. local time. The cruise line hasn’t yet named the victim or made a public statement about the incident.

MSC World Europa was launched in late 2022, and it currently on a week-long Mediterranean cruise which began in Barcelona last weekend.

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