Student, 19, missing for 3 days after plunging off huge holiday cruise ship
A passenger who went overboard the largest cruise ship in the world has been identified as a 19-year-old college student who was on holiday with his friends.
Sigmund Ropich, known to loved ones as 'boiboi', was on board the Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas when he went overboard into the water off the coast of Cuba on Tuesday, August 29, according to his family. The teen, from Washington state, was enjoying a trip with friends when he went overboard on the 230,000-tonne vessel at around 9pm.
He was on the second day of a seven-day trip which had departed from Port Canaveral, Florida. His sister, Savannah, took to Facebook to pay tribute to her brother, writing: "He is a son, a big and a little brother, a cousin, an uncle, a nephew, a friend, a homie, a classmate, a co-worker, a neighbour!!!... I just want my brother home."
She added that there is an "army rooting for him to come home". Videos posted to TikTok captured the moment those on board the cruise were told of the passenger overboard, as the captain made a chilling announcement to those onboard.
He was described as always being "cool, calm and collected" (Facebook)
He went overboard at 9pm on Tuesday, August 29 (Facebook)Sigmund was known as a "reserved" teen who was "always cool, calm and collected" according to Savannah. There has been no sign of him in the days since he vanished beneath the waves, with officials reportedly giving up hope.
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"We were told by the Cuban officials that they are done searching in the ocean. They are continuing only on the coast and land. I have a strong feeling they are going to end this search," said Savannah.
"We are very hopeful if they open [the] search back in the ocean [they will find him]... We need them to open it again."
She said her family has been kept largely in the dark about Sigmund's disappearance. She said Royal Caribbean refused to tell them how long the ship's crew searched for the teen.
An industry blog, however, did report that rescuers spent about three hours scanning the waves using spotlights, small craft, and watchers after the ship turned around to retrace its route. Savannah wrote: "The search crew needs to keep searching for our Boiboi!!!!
"We need answers, we need updates!! We are so far away from him... Please bring this to their attention so we can bring him home!! Please lord!!!!!! Please he hasn't even lived life yet lord."
Royal Caribbean has previously said it had been working with the US Coast Guard, but the military has confirmed search and rescue responsibilities fall under Cuban jurisdiction, reports the New York Post. The US Coast Guard (USCG) is set to conduct an investigation into the incident when the huge ship returns to US waters, a spokesperson said.
Sigmund was on board the Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)Distraught passengers shared the terrifying moment Sigmund fell overboard, with a member of staff heard in one video saying: "We have reports of a man overboard. We have slowed the ship down, we have turned around and we are heading back to the position we had at that time.
"We will start the search and rescue operations with our rescue boats, we will have our crew out and about to look for anything."
One passenger shared videos to TikTok about the incident. In one video, she is heard saying: "Tonight we have a missing person, somebody is in the water as we speak.
"We have seen rescue teams searching for the person, as soon as we find out something I will let you know."
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
The video shows a small rescue boat bobbing around in the dark waters as they search for Sigmund. In a later update, she said: "He had jumped off the ship, they searched for three and a half hours and they did not find his body.
"They had to stop the search because there was a sick person on board, by now for sure his body is never going to be found. It is so sad. I pray for his soul and his family, god bless you all."
After the incident, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said: "On August 29, a guest sailing on Wonder of the Seas went overboard. The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities."
The Wonder of the Seas is 1,188 feet long, with 18 decks and can accommodate almost 7,000 passengers and 2,300 crew members. Royal Caribbean is set to break the Wonder's record, however, when the Icon of the Seas begins service next year.
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