Search is launched for British crew member who fell overboard from cruise ship on Christmas Day 

A desperate search is underway for a British crew member who fell overboard from a cruise ship on Christmas Day. 

The US coastguard is currently searching for 20-year-old Arron Hough – who is believed to have been part of the entertainment team on the Royal Caribbean vessel.  

The cruise firm confirmed today that the Briton went missing overboard on Tuesday and had been working on the Harmony of the Seas ship.  

The US coastguard is currently searching for 20-year-old Arron Hough (right) – who is believed to have been part of the entertainment team on the Royal Caribbean vessel

It is believed Mr Hough was performing in a production of Grease (pictured) as part of the entertainments team for the vessel. His Facebook profile lists his profession as Dancer/Vocalist at Royal Caribbean Productions

It is believed Mr Hough was performing in a production of Grease (pictured) as part of the entertainments team for the vessel. His Facebook profile lists his profession as Dancer/Vocalist at Royal Caribbean Productions

Harmony of the Seas (pictured on its voyage) is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday

Harmony of the Seas (pictured on its voyage) is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday

Arron Hough (pictured), 20, is believed to have fallen overboard from the Royal Caribbean vessel Harmony of the Seas while around 300 miles from Puerto Rico

The Foreign Office has confirmed it is 'providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing of Fort Lauderdale'

Arron Hough (left and right), 20, is believed to have fallen overboard from the Royal Caribbean vessel Harmony of the Seas while around 300 miles from Puerto Rico. The Foreign Office has confirmed it is ‘providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing of Fort Lauderdale’

Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday. It has port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti

Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday. It has port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti

He has not been seen since entering a deck area of the ship at around 4am – and despite a thorough search of the vessel has not been found.    

Royal Caribbean International confirmed that a member of the entertainment team onboard the ship did not report for work on December 25.

A spokeswoman said: ‘On Monday, December 25, a member of the entertainment team onboard Harmony of the Seas en route to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, did not report to work as scheduled. 

‘We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship’s closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4 a.m. and was not seen again. 

‘Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted.’ 

Mr Hough is believed to have been part of a Grease production (pictured) being held on the ship for the duration of the voyage 

Mr Hough is believed to have been part of a Grease production (pictured) being held on the ship for the duration of the voyage 

Mr Hough (pictured) is believed to have been working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship, which was on a seven-day excursion taking in locations including Philipsburg, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti

Mr Hough (pictured) is believed to have been working on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas before falling overboard

Mr Hough (pictured) is believed to have been working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship, which was on a seven-day excursion taking in locations including Philipsburg, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti

A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean confirmed to MailOnline that a member of the entertainment team onboard the ship did not report for work on December 25

A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean confirmed to MailOnline that a member of the entertainment team onboard the ship did not report for work on December 25

The spokeswoman said that its care team is now providing support to the family and friends of the staff member.

She continued: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.’ 

While The Foreign Office confirmed to MailOnline that it was aware of the missing man.

A spokeswoman said: ‘We are providing assistance to the family of a British man who has been reported missing of Fort Lauderdale.’  

In the days leading up to his disappearance, Mr Hough can be seen tweeting about life on the ship – and even shared footage of his production of Grease.

And in his penultimate tweet posted a cryptic message which read: ‘Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things.’

In the days leading up to his disappearance, Mr Hough (pictured) can be seen tweeting about life on the ship - and even shared footage of his production of Grease

And in his penultimate tweet posted a cryptic message which read: 'Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things.'

In the days leading up to his disappearance, Mr Hough (pictured left and right) can be seen tweeting about life on the ship – and even shared footage of his production of Grease

Mr Hough (left) is seen larking about with friends in a picture posted to his Facebook profile in mid-November. The youngster went missing while working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship

Mr Hough (left) is seen larking about with friends in a picture posted to his Facebook profile in mid-November. The youngster went missing while working on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship

The crew member is believed to have been working on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas (pictured) before falling overboard 

The crew member is believed to have been working on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas (pictured) before falling overboard 

The youngster, believed to be from Sunderland, has previously studied at the Urdang Academy in London. 

The arts academy provides specialist vocational training in dance and musical theatre. 

Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday, December 23.

It has port calls to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti.  

A HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Clearwater and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute are searching for Hough. The cruise ship was off Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

The ship sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk