Missing Carnival Cruise Ship Passenger Fell Backward Off Rail, Video Shows
Carnival confirmed that Samantha Broberg fell backwards off of the 10th deck.
— -- The woman who went missing Friday from the Carnival Liberty cruise ship, had climbed up on a deck railing and fell backwards into the Gulf of Mexico, the cruise line said today.
After Samantha Broberg, 33, was reported missing by her travel companions, a ship-wide search was conducted and the ships camera footage was reviewed, Carnival said.
"Based on the video analysis, we can confirm that it appears she climbed up and sat on a deck railing and subsequently fell backwards," Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz said.
Carnival Liberty departed from Galveston, Texas, on a four-day Mexico cruise on Thursday and is scheduled to return on Monday morning. Broberg had not been found as of midday Sunday, despite a search by the Coast Guard.
The video shows that she fell into the Gulf of Mexico from the 10th deck of the ship at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, but the Coast Guard was not contacted until 5 p.m. Friday, when her disappearance had been confirmed.
"Authorities were notified including the U.S. Coast Guard which has been conducting search and rescue efforts in the area the ship was located when the individual was last seen. Carnival’s CareTeam is providing support to the guest’s traveling companions and family. We are keeping our guest and her loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time," Carnival said today.
The Coast Guard said aircrews searched through the day and into the evening Saturday, and after stopping the search for the night when darkness fell Saturday, planned to resume at first light Sunday.
The woman's family released a statement Saturday asking for privacy.
"We hope and pray the U.S. Coast Guard is able to bring Samantha home," the statement said.
Passenger Linda Lopez told ABC station KTRK-TV in Houston the ship's staff conducted a thorough search.
"They wanted to check every single room to make sure that every guest was in their room," she said. "They were just keeping us updated like, 'We have not found her.' People are talking about it everywhere. They're very sad."