USCG Ends Search for Carnival Paradise Passenger

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has suspended the search for a passenger who reportedly fell overboard from the Carnival Paradise cruise ship.

The man went missing about 85 miles west of Fort Myers, Florida, on May 22.

The passenger has been identified as the 50-year-old Brian Lamonds of Greensboro, N.C.

“I have been in contact with members of Mr. Lamonds’ family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them,” Cmdr. David Aldous, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard 7th District, said.

“Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly,” he added.

Coast Guard rescue crews were composed of a C-130 Hercules aircraft and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew from Air Station Miami, and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo, homeported in Key West.

Crews searched for approximately 55 hours covering 3,059 square miles.

The 70,367-ton ship was transiting from Tampa to Key West when the incident took place.

Carnival Paradise, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, resumed its voyage to Cozumel, Mexico and is currently in the Gulf of Honduras, according to the ship’s AIS data from MarineTraffic.