Mystery of Scot, 23, lost at sea af ter he plunged overboard from liner
A YOUNG Scot is feared dead after falling overboard from a cruise ship.
Liam Jones, 23, of Dundee, who had been on the MSC Euribia, fell into the water last Saturday near the Netherlands.
It is believed the liner had set off from Southampton the previous evening and was heading towards the German port of Hamburg. Mr Jones is reported to have been travelling with family members.
The operator of the ship confirmed a passenger had gone overboard on Saturday and that authorities were notified. A spokesman for MSC Cruises said police in Southampton boarded the vessel yesterday to carry out inquiries for the coroner.
The young husband’s friends and relatives have spoken of their
‘Desperate for information’
devastation and say they are desperate for more information.
His wife Sophia, 20, who was not on the trip, told the Courier newspaper: ‘I’m extremely worried about what’s happened and I’ve been desperately trying to seek information.
‘The horrible situation is not knowing exactly what has happened. Police Scotland has informed me officers in Germany are looking at the case.’
She posted a broken-heart emoji on her Facebook page next to a picture of her and Mr Jones on their wedding day.
His brother William Neil, 23, told the Courier he had been informed of the incident by Police Scotland at his home in Glasgow on Thursday night.
He said: ‘Liam’s family and friends are devastated by this news. We are really disappointed with MSC on their lack of communication over this.’
His sister Paula Devlin wrote: ‘The purest soul and best friend a sister could ask for.’ Mr Jones’s friend Jay Forbes, 23, said he had been trying to contact other passengers on board the ship via social media in an attempt to find out the circumstances.
He said: ‘We’ve been unable to get any accurate information as to what has happened to Liam. We are all just extremely worried and desperate for information.’
A spokesman for MSC Cruises said: ‘A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on March 16 as the ship was sailing to Hamburg. This was reported to the authorities. The police in Southampton boarded the vessel yesterday and investigated.
‘We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information.’
The spokesman added that the company’s customer service team had been in ‘continuous contact’ with the family.
The Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British national following an incident in the Netherlands.’