A 73-year-old man from Melbourne has died after falling overboard from the Disney Wonder cruise ship during a voyage to New Zealand.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred in the Tasman Sea in the early hours of Saturday, 22 November. The pensioner, identified as being from the Moonee Ponds area of Melbourne, reportedly fell from one of the ship's decks at around 4:30 am.
The Disney Wonder was en route to Auckland, New Zealand, at the time. Following the incident, the vessel was forced to alter its course and initiate a search operation.
Ship's Response and Passenger Reaction
Passengers onboard first became aware of a change in the ship's direction several hours later, at approximately 12 pm. The captain addressed those on board, confirming that a passenger had fallen overboard and that the search had been unsuccessful.
Fellow passenger Mitch Talbot described the atmosphere to 7News, stating it was 'quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day.' The cruise has since continued its journey and is expected to arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday.
Official Investigation Underway
Victoria Police have confirmed they are preparing a report for the coroner. In an official statement, they said, 'The death is not being treated as suspicious.'
Tragically, the body of the 73-year-old man has not been recovered. Metro has contacted Disney Cruise Lines for further comment on the incident.
