A search is underway to find a British tourist who fell from a Tui-operated cruise ship.
Spanish coastguards and police are said to have been mobilised after the adults-only Marella Explorer 2 sounded a ‘Man Overboard’ alert.
The alarm was sounded yesterday morning as the 14-deck vessel headed to the Canaries from Madeira and the captain slowed it to a near-stop before activating 'protocol procedures', local media reports.
The procedures included reviewing cameras, launching marker buoys and conducting circular search manoeuvres.
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The Spanish coastguard has confirmed the passenger is a British man.
"The man is a 76-year-old British passenger," a statement read.
Marella Cruises confirmed the incident happened while the ship was en route to La Gomera.
Spanish coastguards are said to have mobilised two of their specialist rescue vessels including the Tenerife-based Salvamar Menkalinan as part of a sea search supported from the air by an emergency helicopter.
A German-flagged yacht answered the SOS call, according to local media.
The circumstances of the fall are currently unclear.
The circumstances around the fall are currently unclear (file photo)
|GETTY
A Marella Cruises spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened to confirm that a guest was seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera.
"Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this difficult time.
"Our dedicated care team is supporting the family, providing assistance and comfort. We are working closely with local authorities and will continue to offer every possible support."
The ship arrived in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz at around 2.30am today.
The Malta-flagged cruise liner was built in 1995 and has 10 bars including the golf-themed 19th Hole and 10 restaurants as well as an open air cinema and Broadway-style theatre.
It departed Tenerife on November 21 for a seven-day Canarian Flavours tour with scheduled stops in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Madeira and La Gomera.
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The Tui ship arrived in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz in the early hours of this morning (file photo)
|GETTY
In a separate incident on November 20, an American woman mysteriously disappeared from a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
Ann Evans, 55, went missing during an organised island tour in Sint Maarten, east of Puerto Rico.
She was seen departing the Holland America Line Rotterdam ship around 10am to go on the tour and getting off the bus in Marigot, French Saint Martin, but failed to return.
Authorities say law enforcement authorities on both the Dutch and French sides of the island have been alerted.
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