Urgent search and rescue operation underway for young woman who fell overboard a cruise ship off the coast of Australia
- Air and sea search is underway for a young woman overboard from cruise boat
- Police were alerted by Carnival Cruises shortly after midnight on Wednesday
- The Pacific Explorer ship has remained in place while crew assist police search
An urgent search and rescue mission is underway to find a young woman who reportedly fell overboard from a cruise ship on South Australia’s coast.
Carnival Cruises alerted police shortly after midnight on Wednesday after the woman fell from its P&O branded Pacific Explorer Cruise near the coastal town of Cape Jaffa, about 300km south of Adelaide.
Police said crew members learnt the passenger was missing at about 11.30pm.
The boat has remained in place while the search continues.
A statement released by South Australian Police said: ‘An air search is currently underway about 70km off the coast with assistance from PolAir and the Challenger aircraft from Essendon.
‘The cruise ship is also assisting with the search in the 5 metre seas and local SES are on standby.’
It is understood the cruise left Melbourne on Tuesday for a four-day return trip from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island.
More to come