Search on for 'cruise-fall' Briton (From Times Series)

Search on for 'cruise-fall' Briton

6:09am Saturday 4th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

A search is under way for a British passenger who apparently went overboard from the world's biggest cruise ship in waters near Mexico.

The 30-year-old man, who has not been named, was seen falling over the railings by another passenger on the Allure of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean International cruise line said.

He could also be seen falling over in footage from an onboard video camera.

The man went overboard as the ship was sailing to Cozumel, Mexico and the Mexican navy and coastguard are assisting in the search.

The Allure of the Seas left Fort Lauderdale in Florida on Sunday for a seven-night cruise. The ship can carry 5,400 passengers.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the reports and are looking into them."

The guest saw the man fall overboard at 12.10pm (7.10am local time) on Friday, a statement from Royal Caribbean said.

The company added: "The ship made multiple public announcements and began a complete search of the ship, in efforts to locate the guest.

"When the guest did not respond to the pages and was not found onboard, the captain alerted the local authorities of the situation.

"A review of the ship's closed-circuit camera footage observed the 30-year-old British male guest going over the balcony railing in his stateroom on deck 11."