FEARS FOR ARRON
Air-sea search for Wear entertainer thought to have fallen overboard from Caribbean cruise ship
Rescuers have been searching for a Sunderland cruise ship entertainer who is feared to have gone overboard on Christmas Day.
The alarm was raised over Arron Hough, 20, when he did not report for work on the Harmony of the Seas.
The last CCTV footage available of Arron showed him heading on to the Royal Caribbean ship’s deck at around 4am, but staff on board only realised he was missing when he did not report to work later that day.
The United States Coast Guard was alerted to his disappearance at 1.45pm.
The vessel, run by Royal Caribbean, was 267 miles north-west of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, at the time and en route to Philipsburg, St Maarten.
The United States Coast Guard said it had deployed a Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute in the search.
A spokesman for Royal Caribbean said: “We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship’s closedcircuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4am and was not seen again.
“Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted.
“Our care team is providing support to the family and friends of our colleague, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
Mr Hough’s Facebook page says he went to The Urdang Academy,an independent performing arts academy in London.
Back in 2014, aged 15, Arron won Sunderland’s Genfactor competition.
The former Sandhill View pupil impressed judges and a crowd of more than 800 at the Sunderland Empire with a fantastic dance routine.
In July, London-based talent agency Russell Smith Associates tweeted that he would be joining the cast of Grease The Musical on Harmony of the Seas.
The firm said on Twitter: “On behalf of Russell Smith Associates, we are both shocked and saddened about the news concerning our Arron Hough. Our thoughts are with all of his friends and family and we hope for him to be found very soon.”
The Urdang Academy said: “We are all praying for @Arronhoughxox and his family. Please keep up your hope and faith that he is found safe and sound as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing off Fort Lauderdale.”