Cruise ship horror as passenger 'goes overboard' as loud alarm sounds in middle of night

A passenger has reportedly gone overboard an 18-deck cruise ship bound for Southampton, with a huge search operation in the middle of the night as the captain made an announcement

A passenger has reportedly fallen overboard from an 18-deck cruise ship en route to Southampton. The incident occurred on the MSC Virtuosa, sparking a massive overnight search operation.

Alarms were sounded at 2am on Saturday, with the ship emitting "loud blasts" and the captain announcing a "man overboard," according to The Mirror. The ship slowed its course as crew members initiated a major search operation.

One passenger reported that spotlights were used to illuminate the sea in an attempt to locate the missing individual. The search area extended north of Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney, reports the Express.