MIAMI (AP) -- A search is underway in the Bahamas for a woman who apparently fell overboard from a cruise ship.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it has dispatched aircraft and two ships to an area about 27 miles (about 43 km) southwest of the island of Grand Bahama to look for the 32-year-old woman. A Coast Guard statement says the woman was seen falling before dawn Wednesday from the 11th deck of the Carnival Ecstasy.
The Coast Guard later identified her as Rina Patel, 32, from Interlaken, New York.
The cruise ship had left Nassau, Bahamas and was en route to Charleston, South Carolina at the time.
#BreakingNews @USCG crews searching for missing 32YOF who reportedly fell off the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship 27 miles SW of Freeport, BS
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 7, 2016
NEW: Carnival Cruise statement: “Female guest was witnessed jumping overboard from the cruise ship Carnival Ecstasy" pic.twitter.com/CCbvTSRqPM
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) September 7, 2016