Australian authorities are looking for a couple who fell overboard on a Carnival Spirit cruise ship the night before it was supposed to dock in Sydney.
The couple, a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, was reported missing earlier today, May 9, after the ship docked at Sydney's Circular Quay at the end of a 10-day trip, said New South Wales state Police Superintendent Mark Hutchings said, according to The Associated Press.
Police have begun investigating whether or not the couple jumped or both fell by accident.
Hutchings said that surveillance video from May 7 showed the couple falling from the ship's mid-deck, approximately 65 miles off of the coast of Forester, a city 185 miles away from Sydney.
The couple's identities have not been released.
"This is a tragic event at the moment, but we're holding out hope we might be able to find these people alive," Hutchings said according to the Associated Press.
Police said that they were told about two hours after the ship docked that the couple was missing.
The ship initiated standard missing-person procedures, including a full search of the vessel. They were traveling with family and friends and initial reports indicate that they were last seen onboard the vessel Wednesday night, Carnival spokesman Peter Taylor said in a news release.
Police are using a plane and boats off the coast of Forster to look for the couple.
"We have naturally been concerned since we became aware that two passengers were missing from Carnival Spirit and our thoughts are clearly with their families at this difficult time," Taylor said according to the Associated Press. "We are working closely with New South Wales Police and assisting them in their inquiries.
The couple had been among 2,680 passengers on a South Pacific cruise, according to the Associated Press.
"Out of respect for the families, we won't be making further comment at this time," Taylor said.
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