Tourist's heartbreaking final text to wife before he vanishes from cruise ship

23 March 2024 , 20:45

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Liam Jones, from Dundee, is feared dead (Image: Handout Jay Forbes)

A British tourist feared dead after going missing from a cruise ship sent his wife a poignant final text.

Liam Jones, 23, had sent his wife Sophia Mcphee a message to say he was feeling seasick, their last communication before Liam was reported missing.

The social work student was on MSC Euribia, an MSC Cruises ship, with family members to celebrate his mother's birthday. It left Southampton initially for Hamburg, Germany on Saturday March 16 but Liam soon lost contact with his relatives. It is understood Sophia, 20, is not with the party.

Sophia, who lives in Dundee with Liam, said: "I feel so lost. He's just... gone. I'm never going to see him again. I'm devastated. I have so many questions, and I'm not getting any answers to what's happened."

Sophia said Liam's sister told her about the disappearance and claims her sister-in-law said she saw CCTV, which showed Liam going overboard into the North Sea on approach of Hamburg.

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Liam and wife Sophia are pictured on their wedding day (Handout Jay Forbes)

"I've been trying to get in contact with the MSC since Monday but it's been a headache. They're not getting back to me. I’m extremely ­worried about what’s happened and I’ve been desperately trying to seek information," Sophie told Daily Record. The operator of the ship told the publication a ­passenger had gone overboard last Saturday and that authorities were notified.

A spokesman for MSC Cruises said: "A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on March 16 as the ship was sailing to Hamburg. This was reported to the authorities. The police in Southampton boarded the vessel yesterday and investigated.

"We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. Out of respect for the ­family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information."

The spokesman added that the company’s customer service team had been in "continuous contact" with the family. The Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British national following an incident in the Netherlands."

Gemma Ryder