Man arrested for homicide of holidaymaker killed in ‘fight’ on cruise ship | EUROtoday

A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of homicide after an altercation on a cruise ship wherein one other man, 60, died.

Police rushed to the Southampton Docks on Monday morning to arrest the Exeter resident, after the cruise ship returned to shore.

The 60-year-old man died on the MSC Virtuosa after an altercation on Saturday night shortly after the ship left Southampton, police stated. The ship returned to town on Monday after the demise on British waters, earlier than police arrested the suspect.

“There was a lot of drinks flowing,” Celia Kelly, who instructed The Independent she was on board the cruise with household to have a good time her grandma’s eightieth birthday.

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“It seemed most people had the drinks package where you could basically just keep drinking, it wasn’t quite as calm or refined as a normal cruise,” she added.

But she stated they “didn’t see or hear any trouble at all, only groups having fun”.

When the cruise arrived at Zeebruge, in Belgium, passengers noticed police and ambulances and started to surprise what was happening – with particulars of the incident having been saved quiet by cruise workers, Ms Kelly stated.

“When we got off at Southampton today, there were a lot of police present again,” Ms Kelly added.

The deceased man’s members of the family have been knowledgeable and are actually being supported by specialist law enforcement officials.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Gillooly, the Senior Investigating Officer, stated: “We want to reassure you that this appears to be an isolated incident on-board, and we want to thank the crew for their cooperation and assistance with our enquiries.

“If anyone who was on-board has information that could assist, please contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101 with reference 44250193676.”

Were you on the ship on the time of the incident? Email alex.croft@impartial.co.uk