Woman who died falling from cruise ship named

MSC Virtuosa has accommodation for more than 6,300 passengers

A 28-year-old Colombian woman who died after going overboard on a cruise ship has been named.

The Colombian consulate in London said Jessica Andrea Gómez Granda had been a passenger on the MSC Virtuosa when she was reported missing at about 02:00 BST on Saturday, west of Alderney in the Channel Islands.

The consulate said it had confirmed with counterparts in Paris her body had been fully identified and her family contacted.

Consulado General in London Irene Vélez-Torres added the woman's husband and witnesses were questioned by UK authorities in Southampton when the vessel arrived - it was determined there was no reason to detain her husband.

Ms Vélez-Torres said: "It is the French authorities who, to date, have been conducting the preliminary investigation.

"The Consulate of Colombia in London is working with British authorities to gather more information regarding this case."

The Maltese flagged ship arrived in Southampton docks at about 08:00 on Saturday having travelled from Cartagena Port in Spain.

The woman's husband and witnesses were spoken to by UK authorities when the ship arrived in Southampton

A plane from Channel Islands Air Search was sent to the scene from Guernsey, along with lifeboat crews from Alderney and France and the French helicopter crew based near Cherbourg.

Rescuers used thermal cameras to help locate the body.

The French search and rescue service then winched the casualty from the sea using a helicopter but she was later pronounced dead by doctors.

The ship's owner MSC Cruises said in a statement: "A guest on board MSC Virtuosa went overboard on 12 October, while the ship was sailing to Southampton.

"The body was later recovered with the involvement of the authorities.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time."