The Norwegian Epic, where a man fell overboard the day after Christmas in 2024. Photo:

Gerard Bottino / SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty 

The search for a man who fell from a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship the day after Christmas has been suspended.

The Norwegian Epic was sailing from Jamaica to the Bahamas on Thursday, Dec. 26, when the 51-year-old passenger went overboard around 3 p.m. local time, a cruise line spokesperson said in obtained by PEOPLE.

The ship left Port Canaveral on Saturday, Dec. 22, for a seven-day trip across the Western Caribbean, NBC affiliate WESH reported.

Authorities “were immediately notified” of the incident “and a search and rescue operation under the guidance and oversight of the Bahamas Rescue Coordination Center” was launched, Norwegian Cruise Line’s spokesperson said.

A second ship, Holland America’s Zuiderdam, joined the search for the man before it was called off, according to Cruise Hive.

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“After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the [Epic] was released by the authorities to continue its voyage,” Norwegian Cruise Line’s spokesperson said in the statement.

The man who went overboard was on the cruise with a “large” group of family members when the incident occurred, according to the spokesperson.

The family members on the ship are now “being attended to and supported during this very challenging situation,” they added.

Additional information about the person who went overboard has not been released to the public.

The spokesperson said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”