U.S. Coast Guard calls off search for missing cruise passenger who went overboard 

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday called off its search for an Australian man who allegedly fell overboard while traveling on a cruise ship from Brisbane to Hawaii. 

Warwick Tollemache, 35, was reported missing Tuesday evening, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) near Kailua Kona, Big Island, Hawaii. The cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, spent about two hours in the location searching for the missing passenger. However, it continued its journey towards the Pacific islands when he was not found, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement. 

“While on its trans-pacific sailing, a guest onboard Quantum of the Seas went overboard,” the Royal Caribbean cruise ship company said in a statement.

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

The search for Tollemache was taken up by the U.S. Coast Guard, which sent a C-130 Hercules helicopter to search the waters. After about six hours, the aerial search was suspended after consulting with the Tollemache’s family. 

“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,” said Kevin Cooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu.

"Our family is heartbroken at the loss of our beloved Warwick," Mandy Tollemache wrote in a social media post. "He was a kind, beautiful, and gentle soul who was adored by everyone who knew him."

The Quantum of the Seas was on a 16-day voyage from Brisbane Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii. The cruise ship is 16 stories high and has room for up to 4,500 passengers plus 1,500 crew members, according to the cruise’s website.