Liam Jones, a Scottish traveler, has disappeared from the MSC Eurasia cruise and is presumed dead.
Despite the authorities’ investigation, Liam’s disappearance remains unexplained.
The thought that Sophia, his wife of 20 years, may never see her husband again breaks her heart.
Liam Jones, a Scottish tourist, has disappeared from the cruise ship MSC Euribia and is presumed dead. The 23-year-old Dundee-born social work student was celebrating his mother’s birthday with a week-long luxury cruise when tragedy struck.
Those who knew him considered Liam a capable student and a kind husband. He and his family set out on Friday, March 15th. The cruise was scheduled to visit various European locations, including Hamburg, France, Belgium, and Amsterdam, and depart from Southampton.
While Euribia was traveling to Hamburg on Saturday 16 March, a disturbing turn of events began. At that point, Liam was listed as missing. In the following hours, an inspection was carried out and the ship operator MSC Cruises verified the alarm report of a passenger falling overboard.
Liam’s wife of 20 years, Sophia McPhee, struggles to cope with the shock and devastation of her husband’s sudden absence. She spoke of her intense sense of loss and her displeasure with the lack of information she was given in an interview with the Daily Record. “I’m lost now. Sophia wailed, her voice witnessing the suffering she was going through, “She’s just…gone.
Liam’s text message expressing his seasickness was the couple’s last exchange of messages. It wasn’t long before Liam’s sister sent a disturbing message describing the unfortunate circumstances. The nurse even mentioned the prospect that Liam might not come back.
After notifying the relevant authorities, police boarded the MSC Eurasia on arrival in Southampton on 21 March and conducted a comprehensive investigation. The specifics of how and why Liam went overboard are still unknown despite these efforts.
MSC Cruises issued a statement expressing its regret for the incident and emphasizing its cooperation with the police to establish the facts surrounding Liam’s absence. An MSC spokeswoman said: “We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time.”
Along with Liam’s family and friends, Sophia waits for answers as the investigation moves forward in hopes of bringing closure to this heartbreaking story. The town has come together to support Liam’s family, remembering the young man and the void he left behind.
A report from Cruise Law News on Facebook suggests that this case is not unique, adding further to this troubling story.
In the past four months, Liam is the sixth MSC cruise ship passenger to go overboard.
A crew member disappeared from the MSC Seascape in November 2023. Then, in December, two people mysteriously flew overboard from two different MSC ships – Armonia and Preziosa.
Another passenger fell into the sea in February 2024 but was fortunately rescued and taken to hospital where they received medical attention and were later reported to be in good condition. A 73-year-old American passenger aboard the MSC World Europa died the same month after falling overboard.
These back-to-back events, which occurred between November 2023 and March 2024, have raised concerns about MSC Cruises and prompted calls for a detailed review of emergency response protocols and safety procedures.
The study also revealed concerns expressed by relatives and fellow travelers about delays in issuing statements or launching search and rescue operations following Liam’s disappearance. The fairy tale also won the hearts of many people. While they did not know the details of the case, the Facebook user said that missing persons on cruise ships have become a common occurrence.
It was devastating to see the truth of these lost lives being overlooked. A commenter said: “I always find it very depressing. From time to time there may be rumors on board or they may only be published once. I can’t understand the problems a family faces. It doesn’t matter whether it was an accident or not, the person who already is not among us.
To read about some other scary incidents that happen aboard cruise ships, click on this link.
Though many people might not be aware of it, one TikToker uncovered a darker side to cruise ships, which can still be an exciting journey. On TikTok, a woman going by the handle @darastarrtucker revealed the startling information.
In response to a comment implying that free ice cream was served on cruise ships to make room for a corpse, the TikToker replied.
Dara said she spent roughly six months living on a cruise ship while working as a vocalist there a few years ago.
Despite never having experienced anything unsettling firsthand, she made friends with crew members who had experienced the more sinister sides of cruise life.
Dara reported that a friend of hers who was a nurse on board the ship had informed her that free ice cream parties were held to make room in the freezer for a deceased body. Four to ten individuals usually die on a cruise of between 2,500 and 3,000 passengers, according to the TikToker.
But there were only seven bodies in the morgue. Some of the bodies would be kept in the freezer if the death toll exceeded seven. Consequently, there was a more serious purpose behind the free ice cream parties than just enjoyment.
She posted another video from a TikToker who was a cruise medic to support her claims. This man provided a video with images and corroborated Dara’s claims. When Dara was a musician and lived aboard ships, the first photo of him was shot when he was still in his scrubs.
He displayed an additional picture of the hospital, complete with stretchers, monitors, and medical supplies to treat any wounds. There were a total of twelve rooms, one of which had three beds.
All of the additional emergency supplies were kept in a special area.
The morgue, which could only accommodate three bodies, was located next to that room.
According to this, if more than four persons perished, the freezer would be used, necessitating the removal of part of the food to hold the dead until they could be offloaded at the next port. After the man agreed with her account, Dara felt validated—especially because many had thought she was faking to get likes and clicks.
Many viewers were astonished to learn this, while others confirmed the hypothesis. A cruise ship medic who left a comment said, “Can confirm the morgue and ice cream correlation.” “Yes, we don’t wear our covers on mess decks, and sometimes space needs to be made in the freezer,” said another individual, who had previously been a sailor.
“Thanks for the info,” said one of the viewers. I now know why there was an ice cream party on my cruise ship.” Some people expressed skepticism towards sailing after reading the news; one person said, “I swear every fact I learn makes me want to go on a cruise less.”
The tragic disappearance of Liam Jones from the MSC Euribia cruise ship is a heart-wrenching mystery that has left his loved ones, particularly his young wife, Sophia McPhee, in a state of shock and despair. Despite an extensive investigation by authorities, the circumstances surrounding Liam’s fall overboard remain unclear, adding to the agony of those close to him.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend, with several similar cases reported from MSC cruise ships in recent months, raising serious questions about the safety protocols and emergency response measures on these vessels.
The lack of clear answers and the apparent delay in search and rescue efforts have only deepened the sorrow for Liam’s family and friends. Sophia’s grief, coupled with the frustration over the lack of information provided to her, highlights the emotional toll such tragedies take on the families of the victims. As they await closure, the broader public’s concerns grow regarding the safety of cruise ships, especially in light of recurring incidents. The revelations shared by cruise ship employees on social media platforms like TikTok further underscore the hidden dangers and grim realities that may lurk behind the scenes of what is often marketed as a luxurious and carefree vacation experience.
These unsettling accounts serve as a stark reminder that while cruise ships offer a world of adventure and relaxation, they also harbor risks that passengers may not fully comprehend. As the investigation into Liam’s disappearance continues, the hope remains that the lessons learned from this and similar incidents will lead to improved safety measures and greater transparency from the cruise industry, ensuring that no more families have to endure the same heartbreak.