(CNN) The US Coast Guard suspended its search on Thursday for a 20-year-old British cruise ship entertainer who went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on Christmas Day.

Arron Hough, who was working on the Harmony of The Seas, went overboard 267 miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The search was suspended at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We've been in contact with members of Mr. Hough's family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them," said Cmdr. Christopher Douglas, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response.

"Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly."

Royal Caribbean said Hough failed to show up for work as scheduled on Christmas Day. It added that the ship's closed-circuit camera footage showed him entering an area on Deck 5 around 4 a.m. and he was not seen again. Deck 5 houses shops, restaurants and theaters.

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