Search called off for British woman missing from Tui cruise ship in Atlantic

The US Coast Guard has confirmed that the search for a British woman believed to have gone overboard from a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic has been suspended. The 72-year-old was last seen aboard Tui's Marella Voyager on Monday as the vessel travelled towards the Caribbean.

Crew members discovered she was missing on Tuesday after noticing her bed had not been slept in. The US Coast Guard said the ship was around 500 nautical miles from the location where she is believed to have entered the water when the missing persons report was received.

According to the Coast Guard, the woman was last recorded using a cabin door at approximately midday on Monday. She is thought to have gone overboard in a remote stretch of the North Atlantic, roughly 1,400 nautical miles from Bermuda.

An international search and rescue operation was launched but was called off on Wednesday, with the Coast Guard citing factors including the low chance of survival.

Tui previously stated that once staff identified she was missing, an alarm was triggered and a search began aboard the ship. The Daily Mail had earlier reported that passengers were asked to leave their dinners, drinks and entertainment activities on Tuesday evening while crew conducted an emergency headcount.