U.S. Coast Guard suspends search for woman missing from cruise saying she fell in Canadian waters

A satellite image from camera on board the Sapphire Princess shows Vancouver surroundings.

VANCOUVER – (Update) The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for missing 67-year-old Edelgard Carney following new information that she fell off the cruise ship Sapphire Princess in Canadian waters.

(She did not intend to return home – latest here)

Vancouver Police were earlier called to the cruise ship after it docked in Vancouver.

The U.S. Coast Guard began searching for the California woman because of initial information that she had fallen overboard near Ketchikan, in U.S. waters.

“The Coast Guard has suspended its search for missing 67-year-old Edelgard Carney after receiving new information at 12:44 p.m. (Thursday) from Princess Cruise Lines indicating she went overboard more than 200 miles south of Ketchikan,” said the U.S. Coast Guard in a late evening release on Thursday.

“Recent Princess Cruise Line information revealed that Carney reportedly went overboard 57 miles east off Graham Island in Canadian waters,” the Coast Guard said. It said the work of locating the body now rests with the Victoria Search and Rescue Coordination Centre and will assist if the Canadians need help.

 The latest information suggests that Carney, a Sutter Creek, Calif., resident, fell overboard from the cruise ship Sapphire Princess at 6:08 a.m. Tuesday. It was earlier reported she fell overboard on Monday evening, nearer to the departure point.

“The Coast Guard is working with the Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Center.  The Coast Guard is standing by to provide further assistance to the Canadians if requested.

“The Coast Guard quickly responded to the report of the missing woman, conducting multiple searches on and above the waters south of Ketchikan covering more than 800 miles in two days.”

Sapphire Princess is a luxury line with pools, spa and 740 rooms have balconies.

It sails between Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver and Alaska.

http://www.vancouverite.com/2009/09/24/u-s-coast-guard-says-cruise-passenger-fell-in-canadian-waters/

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