A Virginia Tech student has been named as the man who fell overboard of a Carnival cruise ship in the Bahamas on March 8. Smook has not been found and is still considered missing.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. His Family Are Planning a Memorial Service for Him
(Facebook)
Smook was first named in a statement from Virginia Tech, released on March 11. It reads:
With consent from his family, Virginia Tech can now confirm the identity of the 21-year-old student who was reported missing aboard the Carnival cruise ship Glory Sunday morning.
The student is Cameron Smook of Glen Allen, Virginia, a senior majoring in mining and minerals engineering in the College of Engineering.
That statement was followed up with a message from Smook’s parents which read:
On Sunday morning, March 8 we were notified by Carnival Cruise Line officials that Cameron had accidently fallen overboard during the night and was missing at sea.
The United States Coast Guard was notified and began search and rescue efforts. After conducting an extensive air and sea search these efforts were suspended last evening pending further developments. We thank the Coast Guard for their outstanding service and for keeping us informed throughout this ordeal.
Cameron, 21 years of age, is a graduate of Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Virginia, and was scheduled to graduate from Virginia Tech this spring with a degree in Mining Engineering. He thoroughly enjoyed his experiences at Virginia Tech, had just accepted an employment offer, and was looking forward to a very bright future.
Our family sincerely appreciates your continued prayers and support at this most difficult time. We also request privacy and ask not to be contacted by members of the media.
Memorial service details will be shared at a later date.
The Smook Family
2. Smook Said on Facebook That He’s Canadian
(Facebook)
According to his Facebook page, he’s a native of Ottawa but now lives in Glen Falls, Virginia. On his LinkedIn page, Smook says he graduated from Deep Run High School in Virginia. He also says on his LinkedIn that he works for Virginia Tech’s dining services, taking orders and preparing food. He was studying for a degrees in mining and mineral engineering.
3. He Fell Overboard After Midnight on March 8
Cameron Smook pictured in 2008. (Facebook)
WDBJ in Virginia reports that video cameras on board the ship showed Smook falling overboard on the early on the morning of March 8. The ship had left Miami on March 7 and was five miles south of Abaco Island in the Bahamas.
4. The Search for Him Covered Over 6,000 Miles
(Facebook)
According to a Coast Guard press release, the search for Smook has been called off as of March 10. The coast guard searched around 6,300 miles look for any sign of Smook. The Royal Bahamas Defense Force aided in the search. No foul play is suspected in the accident that befell Smook. A spokesman for Carnival cruises, Vance Gulliksen, told the media:
The safety of our guests and crew are Carnival’s highest priority. These types of instances are very rare considering Carnival has 24 ships operating 1,500 voyages a year and carries 4.5 million guests annually.
The Roanoke Times reports that in 2015 alone, four people in the U.S. have fallen overboard from cruise ships, including Smook.
5. It’s Not the First Tragedy to Occur on Board the Carnival Glory
The Carnival Glory. (Wikipedia)
Smook had been traveling aboard the Carnival Glory which has been in service for the company since July. Beginning in 2014, the ship was operating a week-long cruise out of Miami throughout the Caribbean.
In 2007, while traveling aboard one of Glory’s sister ships, the Ecstasy, David Ritcheson, the victim of a hate crime in Texas in 2006, committed suicide on board the ship. He jumped overboard.