Tragedy struck on Tuesday, August 29, when 19-year-old Texan, Sigmund Ropich, fell overboard during a Royal Caribbean cruise off the coast of Cuba. Ropich, a college student, was vacationing with friends aboard the Royal Caribbean’s massive Wonder of the Seas, a 230,000-ton vessel en route from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Mexico.
Despite the harrowing ordeal, Cuban officials have provided limited updates to the victim’s family regarding the ongoing search efforts. According to Royal Caribbean, the ship’s crew diligently scoured the area for three hours but regrettably found no trace of the missing 19-year-old.
Speculation has arisen concerning the possibility that authorities may have halted the search, given the passage of time since Ropich’s disappearance. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the status of the search.
According to Insider, Sigmund Ropich fell overboard from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship at around 8 pm on that fateful Tuesday night, with reports circulating about the incident just half an hour later.
Cruise Law News reported that Royal Caribbean Cruise mobilized a comprehensive three-hour search operation, utilizing spotlights, lookouts, and several small craft patrolling the ship’s vicinity.
While there were initial reports of the involvement of the US Coast Guard in the search, Cuban jurisdiction governs the operation as Ropich fell into Cuban waters. In a statement to Insider, Savannah Ropich, the sister of the missing man, expressed her family’s determination, saying:
“We were told by the Cuban officials that they are done searching in the ocean. They are continuing only on the coast and land. I have a strong feeling they’re going to end this search.”
Despite the officials’ apparent reluctance to continue the search at sea, the Ropich family remains hopeful, believing there is still a chance of finding Sigmund Ropich.
“We are very hopeful if they open [the] search back in the ocean … We need them to open it again,” Savannah Ropich insisted.
#CARIBBEAN: The person who went overboard on the largest cruise ship in the world is a teenager holidaying with his friends. pic.twitter.com/1Eo539FrZH
— CaribbeanNewsNetwork (@caribbeannewsuk) September 1, 2023
In a separate statement, she raised concerns about the cruise company’s search efforts:
“I ask that they take matters like this seriously. Install man overboard systems, respond ASAP when someone is yelling ‘Oscar, Oscar, Oscar.’ Be CLEAR when communicating WHO is searching for our boy.”
As of now, Royal Caribbean Cruise has not issued any further statements regarding the incident. However, a spokesperson from the cruise line assured that their employees are cooperating closely with local Cuban authorities.
Born and raised in Paris, Texas, Sigmund Ropich was studying at a university in Washington State at the time of the incident. Described as a calm and friendly individual by his sister, his family remains steadfast in their hope for his safe return. Official confirmation regarding the status of the search efforts is still pending.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
