Coast Guard searches for cruise ship passenger reported overboard 47 miles from Galveston

The Coast Guard is searching for a cruise ship passenger who was reported overboard Thursday night.

Boats and helicopters are searching for the 26-year-old man who was reported overboard from the Carnival Dream 47 miles southeast of Galveston around 8:45 p.m Thursday.

Watchstanders launched Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew and an Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew.

According to a statement from Carnival, it appears in camera footage that the guest may have jumped from his stateroom balcony:

"Thursday evening, a guest went overboard from Carnival Dream several hours after the ship departed from Galveston. Based on camera footage, it appears the guest jumped from his stateroom balcony. The ship’s command promptly began search and rescue procedures, returned to the area near where the incident occurred and notified the US Coast Guard which sent a helicopter to assist in the search. Several cargo ships also joined the search. The US Coast Guard released Carnival from the search overnight. We are saddened by this outcome and the onboard CareTeam is assisting the guest’s family. Carnival Dream departed Galveston on Thursday on a four-day cruise."

Coast Guard Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi, Carnival Dream, and a Good Samaritan vessel were involved in the search.