‘Gentle soul’: Aussie Warwick Tollemache identified as man who fell from cruise ship

The girlfriend of an Aussie who went overboard a cruise ship in the Pacific says she’s devastated the search was called off.

The girlfriend of Warwick Tollemache — an Australian man who went overboard a cruise ship in the Pacific — says she’s devastated the search was called off.

The search for Mr Tollemache — a 35-year-old from Brisbane — was suspended on Friday after he fell overboard on Wednesday evening.

Brisbane woman Celina La Roche, who said she had been dating Mr Tollemache “on and off” for six years, told The Courier-Mail she still hoped he was alive.

She had earlier posted on Facebook, telling a friend on Thursday: “Warwick is lost at sea.”

“I love you, always have and always will,” she wrote above a picture of the two of them cruising together in the South Pacific last month.

“RIP my love.”

However, Ms La Roche told The Courier-Mail: “They should have kept looking – I don’t understand why they stopped the search.

“I’m just devastated.”

Warwick Tollemache with Celine La Roche on a previous cruise.

Ms La Roche is devastated.

Mr Tollemache’s family said he would be deeply missed.

“Our family is heartbroken at the loss of our beloved Warwick,” his mother Mandy Tollemache wrote in a statement on Facebook.

“He was a kind, beautiful, and gentle soul who was adored by everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed.

“We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time. Thank you for your understanding.”

A friend described the tragedy as “the worst news ever”, sharing on social media that his heart was aching and he will miss Mr Tollemache dearly.

Mr Tollemache was just 35 years old. Picture: Mandy Tollemache

He has been remembered as a kind and gentle soul. Picture: Mandy Tollemache

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs told news.com.au it was providing consular assistance to Mr Tollemache’s family.

“The Australian Consulate-General in Honolulu is working closely with local authorities,” a spokesperson said. “We acknowledge the ongoing distress for the man’s family and loved ones.”

The US Coast Guard said the difficult decision to call off the search was made after speaking with the missing man’s family and the Australian consulate.

“After reviewing all relevant information of the case and discussing it with the next of kin, the Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend the active search for the passenger aboard the Quantum of the Seas,” Kevin Cooper, a search and rescue mission co-ordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, said in a statement.

US coast guard Ryan Fisher told Sky News Australia the search was suspended “pending any new information”.

Mr Tollemache went overboard on Wednesday night and the search was called off Friday. Picture: Facebook

Mr Tollemache went overboard the cruise ship 1400km south of the Hawaii coast at about 11pm local time on Tuesday (7pm Wednesday AEST).

His disappearance happened shortly after a woman died during a medical emergency on the vessel.

However, the two incidents are not linked and the pair did not know each other.

In a statement, the US Coast Guard said the crew of the cruise ship remained on scene to search for approximately two hours before resuming its course. Six life rings were deployed.

Mr Tollemache was a keen fisherman, posting photos of his catches on social media. Picture: Facebook

The Coast Guard dispatched a C-130 Hercules aircrew from its base on Barbers Point, Hawaii, on Thursday morning (AEST) to help with the search and aircrew completed five searches over the course of six hours.

“After six hours on scene, the crew returned to Air Station Barbers Point for fuel replenishment,” an earlier statement said. “The search will resume at first light Thursday morning (Friday AEST).”

Mr Fisher confirmed on Friday while this was the intention the search did not resume.

The search for an Australian man who fell overboard has been suspended. Picture: Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas ship was two days from reaching its port in Hawaii when tragedy struck on Wednesday – 15 days after the vessel departed from Brisbane docks.

“While on its trans-Pacific sailing, a guest on-board Quantum of the Seas went overboard,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told news.com.au.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities.”

The cruise line’s captain immediately brought the ship to a halt following the news, with staff launching a search and rescue operation.

There were reports early on Thursday that the missing man was the partner of someone who died on the ship following a medical emergency.

However, news.com.au has confirmed that the medical emergency and the man going overboard were two isolated incidents – and the pair were not known to each other.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said: “Out of respect for the family, we will not share further details about this unfortunate event.”

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham read a passenger’s email from on-board the ship.

“Some saying cameras on deck saw [a man] go over. Others saying crew has confirmed the passenger did go over last night and there was only so much they could do,’” Mr Fordham said, reading out the man’s email.

Melbourne man Adam Glezer, who is on the ship with his wife and four-year-old child, told news.com.au an announcement of ‘Oscar’ – meaning person overboard – was made over the intercom at about 7pm Sydney time.

“They didn’t make a big deal about it. It was mainly for staff and crew but an hour later things got more serious,” Mr Glezer said.

“They started doing announcements over the loudspeaker saying ‘potential man overboard’ and that everyone had to go back to their room.”

Mr Glezer said passengers were in their rooms for about 90 minutes before they were able to leave again.

“They were repeatedly calling for a fella on deck 12 who they called about four times,” he added. “They were telling him to go to reception but repeated it four times – they then turned the ship around to look for this fella.”

The cruise ship launched search efforts immediately. Picture: Channel 9/Today show

Spotlights were cast out over the ocean. Picture: Channel 9/Today show

Mr Glezer described it as a “surreal” feeling as the entire ship was quiet – music turned off and everyone was confined to their rooms.

“I called Mum to let her know we are OK. After that they reopened the bars – I went down. It was just packed with people wanting to know what happened.

“I have spoken to workers who have been working on ships for years and they said they have never seen anything like this happen before.”

It’s not believed there were any suspicious circumstances.

The ship was due to dock in Honolulu after stopping in Tahiti in the days prior. It has since resumed its journey to the resort town Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Other ships in the area have been advised to keep a lookout for the overboard passenger, after an amber alert was issued.