In a daring three-hour operation, crew members aboard a cruise ship retrieved five bodies from the sea. Passengers of the Sapphire Princess were informed about the ship’s turnaround after a sighting of an orange object, later identified as a lifejacket, in the western Mediterranean Sea on April 21 at 6 pm European Summer Time.
Video footage captured the retrieval of a male body wearing a purple top and black shorts, which was carefully transferred onto the ship after examination by medical staff. Shortly after, another orange life jacket was spotted at 7:47 pm, leading to the recovery of a second body. Subsequent videos showed the recovery of three more bodies before the captain declared the successful retrieval of all five individuals.
An anonymous passenger shared their emotional experience, describing the event as somber and shocking. The crew’s efforts to maintain calmness and provide support were commended. The recovered individuals are believed to be migrants.
The cruise ship, carrying over three thousand passengers, was situated between the coasts of Spain and North Africa before docking in Cartagena, Spain on April 22. The vessel embarked on a fourteen-day journey from a port near Rome, Italy, on April 19 and is scheduled to reach Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 3.
Princess Cruises confirmed the incident, stating that the crew of the Sapphire Princess successfully recovered the deceased individuals in collaboration with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. The company expressed condolences for the loss and praised the crew for their swift response and assistance efforts.
The incident marks a rare occurrence during a cruise, with passengers expressing astonishment at the unprecedented event. Princess Cruises emphasized that the recovered individuals were not affiliated with the Sapphire Princess as guests or crew members.