Coast Guard calls off search for overboard Royal Caribbean passenger

MARATHON, Fla., March 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday called off its search for a Royal Caribbean passenger who fell overboard Sunday while the cruise ship was in the Florida Keys.

Frank Slippo, 43, fell from the 12th-deck balcony of the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship around 9 p.m. Sunday. He was seen on security footage climbing over the railing prior to going overboard 20 miles off the coast of Marathon, Fla.

The Coast Guard Sector Key West spent more than 57 hours searching for Slippo using a variety of boats and aircraft. Searchers scoured an area of about 1,734 square nautical miles.

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Slippo during this very difficult time. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and an exhaustive search, our crews were unable to locate him," said Capt. Todd Coggeshall, chief of response management for the Coast Guard 7th District.