The US Coast Guard reported Arron Hough, 20, is believed to have fallen off the Royal Caribbean vessel around 4am on Tuesday. The Coast Guard scrambled to search for the missing Brit, who is said to have plummetted from the Harmony of the Seas, 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Arron, from Sunderland, works as a singer and dancer on the giant vessel, which holds more than 5,500 passengers.
A US Coast Guard spokesman said: “The Coast Guard is searching Wednesday for a missing crew member, who went overboard from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
“Missing is Arron Hough, 20, of the United Kingdom.
“Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a notification from the cruise ship stating a crew member went overboard Tuesday.”
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and the crew of a Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC-620) joined in the search for Arron.
A Royal Caribbean spokesman said: “On Tuesday, December 25, a member of the entertainment team onboard Harmony of the Seas en route to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, did not report to work as scheduled.
“We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship’s closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4 a.m. and was not seen again. Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted.
“Our Care Team is providing support to the family and friends of our colleague, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
“Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, December 23, with port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing off Fort Lauderdale.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow.