A 19-year-old passenger who went overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has been identified by his family.
The incident occurred during a seven-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the coast of Cuba, which set sail on August 27.
Sigmund Ropich, 19, a U.S. citizen, was on vacation with his friends and family when the incident happened.
The ship’s crew, alongside U.S. officials, immediately began a search for the missing passenger, collaborating with local authorities, according to Royal Caribbean’s spokesperson.
His sister, Savannah Ropich, confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Cuba was working with the Cuban Embassy to provide assistance.
Videos shared on TikTok by fellow passengers depicted a rescue boat near the cruise ship, actively engaged in locating the missing passenger. Over the cruise ship’s PA system, an announcement was made about the ongoing search and rescue operation. The ship altered its course, heading back to the last known position.
Described as an intelligent and well-mannered person, Sigmund Ropich excelled academically and was a college student.
His family affectionately referred to him as the ‘Cool, Calm, and Collected’ sibling. Following the cruise ship’s return to the United States, the Coast Guard will begin an investigation into the incident.