Man jumps from top of Carnival cruise ship off Florida coast

Jason · August 29, 2012

The Coast Guard is continuing to search for a man who allegedly leapt from the top deck of the Carnival cruise ship Fascinationp on Tuesday at 2 a.m. - falling almost 90 feet below to the water - while the shop was 25 miles off Ponce Inlet, Fla

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Florida authorities are searching for a man who leapt from a Carnival cruise ship Tuesday — falling almost 90 feet below to the water.

A security guard says he saw the 31-year-old jump from the 10th deck — the uppermost level — of the Carnival Fascination cruise ship around 2 a.m., officials said. The boat was about 25 miles off Ponce Inlet, Fla., the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The man’s name has not been released, as officials are still trying to reach his family.

The U.S. Coast Guard has three ships, a motorboat and a helicopter searching the area.

The ship was headed to Key West after departing from Jacksonville on Monday.

The Coast Guard cleared the ship to continue on its five-day trip to the Bahamas, but canceled the stop in Key West, Carnival spokesperson Aly Bello told the newspaper.

Officials said the 10th deck has 42-inch high railings that comply with required standards.

After the man jumped, crew members reportedly threw life rings into the water and the ship turned around.

“The ship’s command immediately performed a maneuver that is specifically designed to bring the ship back to the location where the overboard occurred,” Bello said in a statement. “Search lights and binoculars were used to try to spot the individual. U.S.C.G. arrived on the scene quickly to initiate their search and rescue operation as well.”

By Rheana Murray / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

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