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Man overboard! Passenger falls off Bahamas cruise ship

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Apr 19th 2009 at 10:30AM

The Coast Guard has given up its search for a 39-year-old Norwegian Cruise Line passenger off the Bahamas. The man fell off the boat early yesterday morning, approximately 60 miles north of Nassau. Though he hasn't been identified, other passengers saw him take the plunge.

Other cruise ships in the area contributed to the search for this lone ~~moron~~ passenger. But, at 8 PM yesterday, the Coast Guard said it was suspending the search after having scoured 590 square miles.

Clearly, it pays not to get too close to the edge of the ship ... unless being on a boat isn't your idea of going out to sea.

UPDATE: Our hearts go out to the family of the victim. We are sorry for your loss.

Filed under: North America, Bahamas, News, Cruises

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Michelle Apr 19th 2009 3:24PM

The "moron" you refer to has family. How rude of you to be careless while they are suffering. Shame on you!

Becky Reed Apr 20th 2009 6:54AM

Yeah, you may be right, but this guy was loved by many friends and family. How would you feel if one of your loved ones fell, jumped or was in a drunken stupor and this tragedy happened and this kind of comment was made?

craig Apr 19th 2009 3:25PM

If anyone has been on an NCL ship they know that it is only through stipidity or depression that one can "fall off" a ship. With railings at least four feet high even a stumbling down drunk can't fall overboard. If you are drunk and stupid enough to sit on the railing...well, you asked for it.

steve Apr 21st 2009 11:17PM

I was on the norwegian sky when this happened.Im not a cruise expert at all. I will say that the seas were pretty choppy.It is very unfair for anyone to speculate if he was drunk etc. I do know it was a very sad thing and i feel for the victims family

craig Apr 19th 2009 3:31PM

ps: I was on the Noregian Pearl, one of the ships joining the search and rescue efforts for this "overboard" person. You should have heard our captain's compassion regarding this event. Also, the day before we had a medical emergency onboard our ship, heart attack, the captain and crew acted in the most professional and comforting way you could ask for. NCL, I trust and thank you for your professionalism and compassion. I have already booked my sixth cruise on this cruiseline. Why not? I feel safe and secure.

Megan Apr 19th 2009 8:12PM

Excuse me but my family nows the person who fell offs brother in law. He was there when he fell off. Only someone really sick would speak ill of the dead. Get some class and use better vocabulary then "moron."

liz Apr 20th 2009 6:52AM

do you know his name or can you give his initials? I think this is one of my husband's relatives

Becky Reed Apr 20th 2009 6:53AM

his name was Ben Molbert from Lake Charles, Louisiana

Chip Miller Apr 23rd 2009 1:25AM

This is a very good friend of mine who lived his life as he wanted, was the head of the Mass Gen. juvenile psych dept, a loving friend and true to his love Kathleen. Every step he took on this earth brightened someones life, and all the work he did was to help those in need. Ben, I love you brother, as do all that know you. Ben grew up in Lake Charles, LA. Went to Barbe high, LSU med, the Stanford, and ran the Mass General juvenile Psych program, to know him is to still love him. To all the bs remarks, "may you rot in hell w/ your mother"

Chris Apr 20th 2009 8:38AM

Craig, you're an idiot! The person who fell off the ship is my cousin, a PhD and was doing research for Harvard University. Accidents happen - you're a prime example of that. Shame on you!

Nichole Apr 20th 2009 4:21PM

I know of your cousin through a friend and was told he was on the cruise with his fiancee (Kathleen I think) as a suprise. It is very sad and I am sorry for your loss.

Kerryn Apr 23rd 2009 12:39PM

Chris, First I would like to say I am very sorry for the loss of your cousin Dr. Ben Molbert. My son was under his care at Mclean and is having a real hard time with losing "Dr Ben" as the kids at Mclean call him. Dr. Ben will be missed dearly. Just always remember he was loved and cared for by many and will never be forgotten

Sarah Swellen Apr 20th 2009 6:54AM

How do you know the mans name? Are you from Louisisa?

patricia Apr 20th 2009 12:51PM

I was on that cruise - it is a terrible thing to hear that someone has had that type of situation. No matter what the situation is, whether it was suicide or something else, it is a horrible thing for not only the passengers to have to experience, but for the family especially.

Jacob Apr 21st 2009 4:09PM

Patricia - you're giving too much credit. Nothing about this website approaches "journalism."

Pat Apr 20th 2009 2:29PM

I was aboard the Royal Carribean cruise ship Monarch of the Seas. We were the first ship on the scene to help with the rescue. I feel so bad for this person's friends and relatives that we or one of the other "helper" ships could not find him.
To call this person a moron without knowing the circumstances surrounding the accident is not only inhuman but journalism at its worse. I hope it never happens to you, Tom Johansmeyer!

Tina Apr 21st 2009 4:26PM

I was on the Monarch as well. My 3 1/2 year old sat on our balcony looking for this poor soul. When we got to Nassau, members of our family ran into some travellers from the Norwegian Sky and it was troubling to hear that others were in the stateroom when it happened. There were also stories from passengers saying he jumped after an argument.

Whatever the circumstances, my heart goes out to the family and friends of this fellow.

Diana Apr 20th 2009 2:50PM

I, also was on the Pearl searching for the passenger. And as much as we all may have been a little upset that our final day of our vacation was changed, we also must think of what this man may have been going through to either do this himself or what his final moments may have been like if this was not intentional. This was a person, not an animal and he did have a family somewhere, that is now suffering. I also feel for the other Sky passengers, who are now living with the fact that they may have shared last moments with this man, either at the bar, pool or just passing him in the hallway. We should not be so selfish, as we are able to write these comments and are not planning a funeral for a man that was or may not be found. Come on people, have some compassion!

Helch Apr 20th 2009 4:21PM

I was also on the Monarch of the Sea, the first ship to arrive in the search. I talked to a senior member of our crew yesterday who said the the man actually jumped overboard after an argument with his wife. Who knows whether that is true or not but I suspect these crews all talk to each other during these unfortunate situations so I suspect there might be something to that. Either way, very very sad for all parties related.