Australian authorities are searching for a couple who fell over the side of a cruise ship Wednesday, according to the Associated Press and ABC News
According to surveillance footage, the couple—a 30-year old man and a 27-year old woman—fell overboard on the Carnival Spirit cruise ship the night prior to its arrival at Sydney’s Circular Quay, said police.
According to the superintendent of the New South Wales State Police Mark Hutchings, the footage shows the couple tumbling from the ship approximately 65 miles off the coast of Forester and 185 miles from Australia’s capital. Police are still not sure whether the couple tripped overboard or jumped.
"This is a tragic event at the moment, but we're holding out hope we might be able to find these people alive," said Hutchings.
A statement from police says the department did not find out about the missing couple until two hours after the ship had docked.
Ship personnel went into full standard missing-person protocol including a search of the entire ship.
According to Carnival spokesman Peter Taylor, the couple took the trip with their loved ones and was last seen onboard Wednesday night. Law enforcement is making use of boats and a plane to look for the couple off the coast of Forster.
"We have naturally been concerned since we became aware that two passengers were missing from Carnival Spirit and our thoughts are clearly with their families at this difficult time," Taylor said. "We are working closely with New South Wales Police and assisting them in their inquiries.
Taylor declined to comment further out of respect for the families. The couple’s names have not yet been released.
