Five bodies were recovered from the sea in a three-hour operation conducted by staff aboard a cruise ship. Passengers of the Sapphire Princess were informed that the vessel was turning back after an orange object, later identified as a lifejacket, was sighted in the western Mediterranean Sea at 6 pm on April 21.

Video footage captured the retrieval of a male body, dressed in a purple top and black shorts, onto a lifeboat, where it was covered and transferred to the ship. Medical personnel examined the body before it was taken below deck, and the ship resumed its course at 6:59 pm.

Subsequently, at 7:47 pm, another life jacket was spotted, leading to the recovery of a second body. Additional videos show three more bodies being retrieved before the captain announced the successful recovery of five individuals.

A passenger, speaking anonymously, described the somber scene, mentioning that it appeared the deceased were migrants. The crew handled the situation with care, offering counseling to all onboard.

The cruise ship, positioned between Spain and North Africa, made port in Cartagena, Spain, on April 22. The vessel, carrying over three thousand passengers, embarked on a fourteen-day journey departing from a port near Rome, Italy, on April 19, with its final destination set for Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 3.

The passenger, who first shared the account with Talk to the Press, expressed astonishment at the unprecedented event, stating that even seasoned cruisers were taken aback by the tragic incident.

The five recovered individuals are believed to be migrants, according to reports. Princess Cruises issued a statement acknowledging the incident, confirming their vessel’s involvement in the recovery operation and expressing condolences for the loss. The cruise line praised the swift response and efforts of its crew in assisting with the recovery mission.