A 28-YEAR-OLD woman who died after going overboard from a cruise ship off the Channel Islands has been named.
Colombian national Jessica Andrea Gómez Granda was a passenger on the Southampton-bound MSC Virtuosa when she was reported missing in the early hours of Saturday.
The Colombian consulate in London yesterday confirmed with French counterparts that Ms Granda’s body had been identified and her family contacted.
The Consulado General in London, Irene Vélez-Torres, said witnesses had been questioned by UK authorities in Southampton.
Ms Vélez-Torres said: “It is the French authorities who, to date, have been conducting the preliminary investigation.
“The Consulate of Colombia in London is working with British authorities to gather more information regarding this case.”
MSC Virtuosa was on its way to Southampton when it sent out a distress message shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Channel Islands Air Search, a French navy helicopter and a RNLI lifeboat from Alderney all took part in the search.
Ms Granda was located in the water at around 2.30am. She was hoisted onto the French helicopter and taken to a rescue centre in France, where a medical team confirmed her death.
Following the incident, an MSC Cruises spokesperson said they were “deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time”.
An investigation is underway into the incident.
