Fan Goes Overboard On Mad Decent Boat Party, Search Underway
Tonight, just a week after a man went overboard on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, a woman has fallen overboard on the Mad Decent Boat Party, a five-day EDM festival aboard the Norwegian Pearl featuring artists like Diplo, Skrillex, A-Trak, iLoveMakonnen, and MØ. The ship set sail from Miami yesterday, bound for Cozumel, Mexico, and TMZ reports that as of 7PM EST, when the US Coast Guard was notified, the boat was 22 miles off the coast of Cuba. Some sources say that the woman may have jumped off the ship. All stages have been closed, and the ship has turned around to search the Gulf of Mexico along with several rescue boats, search and rescue helicopters, and a Coast Guard plane. The missing fan has not yet been found, and as YourEDM points out, one attendee is currently livetweeting the situation.
Someone jumped off our boat, and we're currently circling the gulf looking for her…
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 12, 2015
Lifeboats just went out, but holy shit it's dark pic.twitter.com/JhU9UmSmL8
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 12, 2015
Another lifeboat launched, bringing the total to 3
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Announcement came on additional rescue services have been deployed. Still searching.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Lifeboats still out. Cruise boat is now following drift pattern as we keep looking.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Coast guard has been notified and we're still following rescue operational procedures.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
3 rescue boats in the water, 2 addt'l nearby cargo ships active in search as well. US Coast Guard & Cuban auth on alert/en route.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Coast guard cutter (sp?) ship directed towards our area as well as a Coast Guard rescue plane w/ estimated arrival ~1hr.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
6 Boats in the water. Coast guard plane still 45 minutes out. PA announcements to happen every 30m instead of 15m.
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Coast Guard aircraft has arrived
— Ze Sus ?? (@zethussuen) November 13, 2015
Last year two fans died at the Mad Decent Block Party in Columbia, MD.
UPDATE: Mad Decent released this statement early Friday morning…
Thursday, November 12 during the chartered cruise on Norwegian Pearl, a female guest was observed intentionally going overboard while the ship was sailing the Yucatan Channel. The ship’s crew immediately initiated rescue measures, including deploying three rescue boats and notifying the Coast Guard and other relevant authorities. The search for the guest is ongoing. Both the ship and charter company teams are providing support to the family and all impacted guests during this difficult time.
UPDATE 2: As Pitchfork points out, the US Coast Guard confirmed today that they are suspending their search efforts. The missing passenger has been identified as Kaylyn Rose Sommer, a 24-year-old mother and Charleston resident.
