Cruise ship crew member dies after falling overboard on Icon of the Seas vessel in Caribbean

Panicked passengers on-board the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas desperately tried to help save the crew member by throwing life rings into the water.

A Crew member on the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cruise ship has died after falling overboard.

Passengers said an alarm was sounded at around 7pm on Thursday – warning of a person overboard.

A crew member was recovered from the water 30 minutes later after a huge search and rescue operation, The Sun reports.

They were sadly pronounced dead, Royal Caribbean said.

The crew member was rescued from the sea and later died. Credit: TikTok / @nickdestefano29

A crew member was recovered from the water 30 minutes after falling. Credit: TikTok / @olivegarden050

A spokesperson told The Sun: “Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately the crew member passed away.

“We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family and loved ones.

“To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share.”

According to reports, the cruise ship immediately slowed and turned back after the alarm was sounded.

The cruise ship immediately slowed and turned back after the alarm was sounded, according to reports. Picture: Royal Caribbean

Data shows the ship’s course change northeast of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, roughly 200 miles east of Nassau.

Panicked passengers desperately tried to help save the crew member by throwing life rings into the water, reports say.

The ship’s course changed northeast of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Picture: Marco Bello/AFP

Decks were cordoned off while rescue efforts were underway to find the staff member.

It comes after a Brit tourist died on a cruise ship travelling through a popular Greek island.

On another ship, a captain died in the middle of a 19-day voyage in Asia.

And a cruise ship passenger died just days before Christmas last year after trying to jump from the vessel.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.