A 28-year-old Colombian woman who died after going overboard from a cruise ship has been identified as Jessica Andrea Gómez Granda. The Colombian consulate in London confirmed she had been a passenger on the MSC Virtuosa when she was reported missing around 02:00 BST on Saturday, off the coast of Alderney in the Channel Islands.
The consulate stated that her body had been fully identified in coordination with authorities in Paris, and her family has been informed. Irene Vélez-Torres, Consulado General in London, added that the woman's husband and witnesses were questioned by UK authorities when the ship docked in Southampton, and there was no reason to detain him.
The French authorities have been leading the preliminary investigation. The Colombian consulate in London is working closely with British authorities to gather more information on the case.
Rescue efforts included lifeboat crews from Alderney and France, a Channel Islands Air Search plane, and a French helicopter crew. Rescuers used thermal cameras to locate the body, which was recovered by the French search and rescue service. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead by doctors after being airlifted from the sea.
MSC Cruises expressed their condolences in a statement, confirming that the guest went overboard on October 12 and that the body was later recovered with the help of authorities. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time," the company said.
The Maltese-flagged MSC Virtuosa arrived in Southampton at around 08:00 on Saturday, following its journey from Cartagena Port in Spain.