US Coast Guard suspends search for missing cruise ship worker Arron Hough
Coast guards have suspended the search for a missing British cruise ship entertainer who reportedly went overboard on Christmas Day.
The United States Coast Guard said it has ended the search for 20-year-old Arron Hough at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
CCTV footage shows Arron was last seen heading on to the deck of the Royal Caribbean vessel Harmony of the Seas at around 4am on Christmas Day, when the ship was 267 miles (430km) north-west of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Staff on board only realised he was missing when he didn’t report to work later that day and the United States Coast Guard was alerted to his disappearance at 1.45pm.
Their ensuing search covered more than 3,700 square miles and a combined total of 83 hours, with the rescue mission involving three different aircraft and the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute.
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Commander Christopher Douglas, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response, said: “We’ve been in contact with members of Mr Hough’s family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them.
“Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.”
According to Arron’s Facebook page, he attended the London-based drama school Urdang Academy, which has posted a message on Twitter saying it was “praying” for him and his family.
The Royal Caribbean website says Harmony Of The Seas, which can carry 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew, won the title of largest cruise ship in the world in 2016.
The vessel departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday for a seven-night cruise including calls at Philipsburg, St Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti.
