Passenger dies after going overboard from a cruise ship bound for Southampton

A helicopter is said to have winched the passenger from the water following a search but she was pronounced dead

The passenger was reported overboard from the MSC Virtuosa (PA Archive)

A woman has died after going overboard from a cruise ship bound for Southampton.

Rescue teams were scrambled by the French coastguard and navy along with an air search plane from the Channel Islands after a distress call said a woman in her 20s had gone overboard north of Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney, at around 2am on Saturday.

The woman went overboard from the Maltese-flagged cruise ship MSC Virtuosa.

The casualty was later winched from the sea by a helicopter crew but was sadly pronounced dead.

The ship’s owner MSC Cruises told The Independent: “A guest on board MSC Virtuosa went overboard on 12 October, while the ship was sailing to Southampton.

“The body was later recovered with the involvement of the authorities.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.

“Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing further details.”

A plane from Channel Islands Air Search was sent to the scene from Guernsey, along with lifeboat crews from Alderne and a French helicopter crew based near Cherbourg.

The investigation into the death is being led by French police.

However officers from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary have been to deployed to assist with enquiries relating to this incident.

“It has been reported that the woman went overboard the MSC Virtuosa during the early hours of this morning and subsequently died,” a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said.

“The investigation is not being managed by UK authorities.”