ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Coast Guard search and rescue crews have narrowed their search near Revillagigedo Island in the Revillagigedo Channel 15 miles south of Ketchikan after receiving amplifying information from Princess Cruise Lines about the time and location that the 67-year-old woman went overboard.
Carney Edelgard, a Sutter Creek, Calif., resident is reported to have fallen overboard from the cruise ship Sapphire Princess at around 6 p.m. Monday. The Sitka based helicopter crew will be conducting a morning shore line search of the area around the channel.
“Based on new information it was determined that the passenger went overboard shortly after the ship departed from Ketchikan on Monday evening,” said Lt. Johna Rossetti, a Coast Guard District 17 command duty officer. “The Coast Guard is continuing to search this morning and has narrowed the search area to the Revillagigedo Channel based on the information.”
The Coast Guard immediately launched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from Air Station Sitka after the initial notification from the cruise ship crew was received Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Coast Guard also launched a HC-130 aircraft from Air Station Kodiak and a 47-foot motor life boat from Station Ketchikan.
Coast Guard crews searched more than 790 miles for more than 11 combined hours Wednesday. The search was halted last night due to visibility.