A passenger fell overboard from the Norwegian Spirit ship on August 8th, while en route back to Taiwan, an incident witnessed by a couple and their child.
The tragic event was captured on video by another passenger. The footage shows the man, identified as a 30-year-old Taiwanese national surnamed Li, falling from an upper deck while the couple and child, who were looking out to sea, saw him plummet past them. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly sought help.
The cruise ship halted for ~40 minutes while the crew initiated a search and rescue operation, notifying maritime authorities. Unfortunately, the man's body was recovered shortly after. Li had been traveling with his brother on a 6-day cruise that departed from Keelung Taiwan, visiting Nagasaki Japan and Jeju Island Korea.
The incident occurred ~11:00 a.m. as the ship was returning to Taiwan. According to reports, Li lost his footing and fell from the top deck. His body was placed in a freezer until the ship docked at Keelung Port.
Investigators have since boarded the vessel to gather evidence and determine the circumstances leading to the fall. The investigation remains ongoing.
For more Norwegian Spirit incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.