Briton ‘falls overboard in western Mediterranean’ sparking major search operation

Huge air and sea search for missing 31-year-old Briton who fell overboard on a ferry from Ibiza to Majorca

  • Rene Michael Kingston, 31, reported missing as ship docked in Majorca today 
  • Three Spanish rescue vessels began search, joined by multiple helicopters
  • Brit was last seen on ferry coming from Ibiza around two hours before docking

A 31-year-old Briton is believed to have fallen overboard on a ferry in the western Mediterranean today, sparking a major sea and air search operation. 

Rene Michael Kingston was reported missing as the Baralearia line’s Hypatia de Alejandría ship docked at Palma, Majorca, a few minutes after 7am local time. 

It is understood the alert was raised by the man’s family but it is not known if they were on holiday in the Balearics or living there.

Maritime Rescue spokesman Miguel Chicón said they had looked at the ferry’s CCTV and the missing Brit was seen on board still at 5am. 

At that time, the ferry was around 15 miles from the island of Tagomago, a private island off the east coast of Ibiza. 

Rene Michael Kingston, 31, is believed to have fallen overboard on the Baralearia line’s Hypatia de Alejandría ship, pictured, earlier today as it travelled from Ibiza to Majorca 

Three vessels from Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service began the search along with an Air-Sea Search spotter plane and helicopter, another helicopter from the paramilitary Civil Guard and a French spotter aircraft which happened to be in the area. 

All ships in the region were also alerted. 

The newly-built Hypatia de Alejandría can carry 880 people, 2,194 linear meters of cargo and 166 vehicles.

Shipping company Baleària invested 200million euros in the ship, which is their first to be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk