A British senior citizen tragically passed away on a cruise ship after being discovered unconscious in the swimming pool while the vessel was docked in Naples.
The 83-year-old man from Scotland was found in the pool of the Marella Voyager yesterday afternoon. Despite efforts to revive him by passengers and crew, they were unsuccessful.
Italian authorities boarded the ship, temporarily holding it for investigation. The TUI-operated vessel was supposed to leave at 5 pm local time but experienced delays.
It was reported that the passenger was seated near the pool and fell into the water due to a medical issue.
Following a thorough investigation, the police ruled out any foul play, confirming that the elderly man had fallen ill in the water. Subsequently, the cruise liner was allowed to resume its journey in the Mediterranean.
The Marella Voyager departed from Majorca on August 16, made a stop in Sardinia before Naples, and is now heading to Rome, Corsica, Spain, and back to Majorca, as per the Daily Record.
An FCDO spokesperson mentioned, “We are assisting the family of a British man who passed away in Italy.”
A spokesperson from Marella Cruises stated, “We confirm that a passenger passed away due to natural causes on board Marella Voyager. Our thoughts are with the family during this tough time, and our care team is offering support.”
The Marella Voyager set sail from Majorca on August 16, with stops in Olbia (Sardinia), Naples, Rome, Ajaccio (Corsica), Palamos (Spain), and back to Majorca.
In other news, several popular tourist cities are turning against cruise ships. Barcelona is set to demolish three cruise ship terminals due to pressure from locals.
Authorities in Barcelona have decided to reduce the city’s cruise ship capacity after years of complaints from campaigners about the strain caused by large numbers of passengers. The port currently has nine terminals, with seven for cruise ships.
Catalonian authorities have decided to demolish the oldest terminals (A, B, and C) and build a modern terminal at the site of Terminal C, expected to be operational by the end of the decade. The new facility will accommodate around 7,000 passengers at once.
Despite the modernization, the port’s daily capacity will decrease from about 37,000 to 31,000 under a €185m (£160m) plan, according to EuroWeekly News. This decision follows an agreement between the port authority and the city council earlier this week.
