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6 months ago
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A body has been found after a P&O cruise ship passenger fell overboard off the coast of Sydney.
NSW Police received reports a person had gone overboard from the Pacific Adventure just 10 nautical miles off Sydney Heads just after 4am on Monday.
A desperate search was immediately launched before the body of a man was discovered at 10.30am.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner and launch an investigation into the death.
P&O Cruises confirmed the Pacific Adventure has been cleared to return to dock in Sydney after the grim discovery.
'We thank guests for their care, understanding and patience on what’s been a distressing day for guests and crew,' the company said in a statement.
'Our thoughts are with the family of the guest at this difficult time.'
A body has been found after a P&O cruise ship passenger fell overboard off the coast of Sydney
The ship was expected to depart about 4pm on Monday but has been delayed until later tonight.
A man on the Pacific Adventure told 2GB radio that he and 2,600 other passengers woke to a 'man overboard call' early in the morning.
'We got woken up with the man overboard call and from there it's been all on for a couple of hours now,' he said.
A driver who was supposed to pick up passengers from the Pacific Adventure explained that he was told not to rush because the 'the ship's stopped outside the head and somebody's gone overboard.'
P&O Cruises earlier said staff were providing the passenger's family with support.
'P&O's Pacific Adventure is currently undertaking a search and rescue operation off Sydney after a person overboard alarm was raised at 4am,' a spokesperson said prior to the discovery.
Pacific Adventure's arrival into Sydney Harbour had been cancelled during the large-scale search, which includes a rescue helicopter (stock image)
'The family of this guest is being cared for by our onboard team while every effort is being made to find them.'
The Pacific Adventure is returning from a three-day cruise to Queensland's Morton Island which is understood to have had an Elvis theme.
A number of resources from the NSW Police Marine Area Command, including a rescue helicopter, were deployed in the search for the man.
More to come
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