The US coast guard has suspended its search for the 56-year-old man who reportedly jumped off a Carnival cruise ship on Saturday.
“Decisions to suspend search operations are never easy and are made with careful consideration of all available information. Our hearts are with those impacted by his loss,” said Jessica Davila, chief of incident management for the coast guard south-west district.
The agency said it had scoured more than 1,707 sq miles for roughly 41 hours with no sighting of Tom Gigler.
The circumstances leading up to the jump remain unclear. Gigler was last seen on Friday evening. By 1.30pm on Saturday, he had been reported missing, according to the agency.
Camera footage capturing Gigler going overboard was later reviewed.
The Panorama sailed from Long Beach, California, to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on 13 September. The vessel was returning from the coastal Mexican resort town when the incident occurred on Saturday.
Misty Hernandez, who was aboard the cruise ship, noticed it had reversed direction and was heading back toward Puerto Vallarta.
The peculiar about-face came as the intercom system was used to repeat Gigler’s name a few times throughout the morning.
“You heard it one time and you’re thinking: ‘Oh, it’s almost the last day. Maybe he has an outstanding bill.’ But when you hear it more than three times, you knew that something was going on,” Hernandez said.
The cruise’s passengers were later instructed to return to their rooms for a headcount and were informed of a missing-person search, according to a video shared with the Guardian.
The order was lifted hours later when the captain delivered the news of a person having gone overboard.
As passengers trickled out of their cabins, Hernandez said, the previously bustling and loud atmosphere turned quiet. She prayed with some women she encountered in a hallway.
By evening, fellow passengers had written messages about the missing traveler on a piece of posterboard.
Hernandez said she briefly met the man believed to have gone overboard in an elevator with his wife and children.
“They had mentioned that it was their anniversary trip,” she said. “My heart just hurts for their family.”
In a statement early this week, a Carnival spokesperson said they were providing support to Gigler’s family.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.”
