Cruise ship arrives in Charleston as search for woman overboard continues

Coast Guard officials said they are continuing to look for a woman who witnesses said jumped off the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship early Wednesday morning.The Coast Guard initially reported the incident, which happened approximately 27 miles southwest of Freeport, Bahamas, as a woman "who reportedly fell overboard." A Carnival spokesperson said witnesses reported she jumped about 15 miles off the coast of Grand Bahama Island.Coast Guard officials identified the woman as 32-year-old Rina Patel from Interlaken, New York. The woman fell approximately 100 feet into the water from the ship, Coast Guard officials say.Watchstanders with the 7th Coast Guard District command center received notification from the Carnival Ecstasy crew that a woman was reportedly seen falling overboard at approximately 2:30 a.m. Wednesday from the 11th deck, the release states.A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Gannet crew are assisting in the search. The Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber crew was also diverted to assist in the search.The Carnival Ecstasy's last port of call was in Nassau, Bahamas on Tuesday. The ship was allowed to continue on at 9 a.m. Wednesday and docked in Charleston around 5 a.m. Thursday. There are 2,300 passengers on board, according to Carnival.Copyright 2016 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Coast Guard officials said they are continuing to look for a woman who witnesses said jumped off the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship early Wednesday morning.

The Coast Guard initially reported the incident, which happened approximately 27 miles southwest of Freeport, Bahamas, as a woman "who reportedly fell overboard." A Carnival spokesperson said witnesses reported she jumped about 15 miles off the coast of Grand Bahama Island.


Coast Guard officials identified the woman as 32-year-old Rina Patel from Interlaken, New York.

The woman fell approximately 100 feet into the water from the ship, Coast Guard officials say.

Watchstanders with the 7th Coast Guard District command center received notification from the Carnival Ecstasy crew that a woman was reportedly seen falling overboard at approximately 2:30 a.m. Wednesday from the 11th deck, the release states.

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Gannet crew are assisting in the search.

The Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber crew was also diverted to assist in the search.

The Carnival Ecstasy's last port of call was in Nassau, Bahamas on Tuesday. The ship was allowed to continue on at 9 a.m. Wednesday and docked in Charleston around 5 a.m. Thursday.

There are 2,300 passengers on board, according to Carnival.

Copyright 2016 WCSC. All rights reserved.