Elderly British tourist missing after falling overboard from cruise ship off Spain's Canary Islands

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - An elderly British man went missing after falling overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, according to media reports on Friday.

A search effort is underway by Spanish rescue teams for the man, 76 years old, who was reported missing from the Marella Explorer 2 cruise ship on Thursday morning.

In a statement, reported by the British media, Marella Cruises confirmed the incident, which took place while the ship was en route to La Gomera, another of the islands, which are located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the northwest coast of Africa.

"Our dedicated care team is supporting the family, providing assistance and comfort. We are working closely with local authorities and will continue to offer every possible support," said the statement.

According to the reports, helicopters and a patrol boat are also taking part in the efforts to find the missing tourist.

The Spanish island group received some 14.1 million foreign tourists in 2023, including some 5.7 million British nationals, according to airport operator Aena.