ADELAIDE: The body of a 23-year-old woman was found on Wednesday December 14 in the ocean off Australia after she fell overboard from a cruise ship.
Crew members aboard the Pacific Explorer reported missing the passenger at around midnight, when the ship was about 70 km out of the water from Cape Jaffa in South Australia.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority launched a rescue plane that was joined by two helicopters at daybreak. Searchers said they found the body of the woman's body in the water just before 7 am.
The cruise ship, which can accommodate about 2,000 guests, left Melbourne on Tuesday bound for Kangaroo Island in South Australia on a four-night return voyage.
Carnival Australia, a cruise ship company, said it was a tragic outcome.
The company said in a statement that they continue to provide care and assistance to the family member the guest was traveling with and extend their deepest condolences to their loved ones.
Carnival Australia said the death also impacted other guests and the crew.
The company said all those involved in the search operation supported the distressing and challenging search operation.
South Australia police said that the ship's intended visit to Kangaroo Island was canceled and that Victoria Police would conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The weather conditions overnight were extremely poor with strong winds and big seas, Dan Gillis, a duty manager with the safety authority, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Gillis said the woman's body was taken by helicopter to Adelaide after it had been taken to a nearby hospital for identification.