Authorities have called off the search for a missing man Carnival Magic early Monday, May 29. The search was unsuccessful and the man was not found, despite the use of all air and water resources and more than 5,171 square miles of search and more than 60 hours of combined resource use.
Search Stopped
A United States Coast Guard (USCG) search for a 35-year-old man confirmed that he was on the boat. Carnival Magic to no avail, and the search ended Wednesday evening.
The man was It was reported missing from the 130,000 ton Dream-class cruise ship on Monday afternoon.during which security camera footage from the ship was reviewed and it was found that he leaned against the stateroom balcony “and fell into the water” at approximately 4:10 am on Monday morning.
“The Seventh Coast Guard District dispatched multiple search and rescue units as soon as we were notified of the missing person. Our command center issued search directions to cutters and aircrews who conducted an intensive search from Monday through Wednesday evening,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, Coast Guard regional search and rescue coordinator.
“The decision to suspend the investigation pending further progress is not one we take lightly. We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Peale’s family and friends.”
There is currently no explanation as to why the man’s traveling companion, who was revealed by some sources to be his wife or ex-girlfriend, failed to report him missing.
The USCG was contacted for an emergency and immediately dispatched air and water supplies to the appropriate search area, 186 miles (300 kilometers) east of Jacksonville, Florida.
Searches continued Monday night, all day Tuesday, and into Big Wednesday using all weather and water resources available for lighting. An area of 5,000 square kilometers (12,950 miles) was thoroughly searched without success. The combined resources reached more than 40 hours of searching.
Carnival Magic Continued Sailing
Because the man was not found for hours after it was confirmed that he was in the water. Carnival Magic it was quickly arranged to resume her original voyage and voyage, as the ship had already passed from the present search when the report was made.
The ship was at the end of a 5 night tour that visited both Nasau and Freeport in the Bahamas, and was scheduled to have one last day at sea on Monday before returning Norfolk, Virginia Tuesday, May 30.
The ship returned to its home port as scheduled, and has already started its next voyage, the same voyage to the Bahamas.
Passengers on board the man’s missing train reported that several public announcements had been made in an effort to locate the man, but no further details were released.
Investigation In Progress
Social media posts after the trip identified the missing person as Ronnie Lee Peale Jr., a Virginia resident who was on his first trip.
A few hours after the cruise ended in Norfolk, the woman he was traveling with – Jennilyn Blosser, who was identified as his “loved one” – started a GoFundMe fund asking for $20,000 to help with the funeral.
Although it is possible for a healthy person to remain alive in the sea water for a while – a rider pass from Carnival Valor at the end of November 2022 he was rescued alive after about 20 hours – Peale has been missing for more than 60 hours.
The fundraiser was suspended after just one day, after raising $1,055, according to GoFundMe page.
Due to the still unknown circumstances of the man’s fall from the ship, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun an investigation, as is customary in such cases. The shipping authorities are cooperating in every way.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with friends and family of the missing person, as well Carnival Magic co-workers who were affected by this tragic incident.
