Coast Guard suspends search for man seen falling overboard on cruise ship near Bahamas

Missing passenger, 24, seen going overboard on ship's security system

MIAMI – The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing cruise ship passenger seen falling overboard Monday morning near the Bahamas.

A Coast Guard news release said Kevin Wellons, 24, was seen going overboard from the 11th deck of the Carnival Elation on the cruise ship's closed-circuit security system.

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The ship, which originated from Jacksonville, was en route to its first port of call in Nassau, Bahamas, when the man fell overboard about 15 miles southwest of Abaco, Bahamas.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Clearwater and a Coast Guard airplane crew from Miami were dispatched to search for the man. 

Crews searched more than 1,381 square miles for more than nine hours as they searched for Wellons.  

 


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.