Bay Minette Woman Falls Off Cruise Ship

A Bay Minette woman is missing in the Gulf of Mexico after falling off a cruise ship.

The Coast Guard says 50-year-old Michelle Vilborg fell off the Carnival's Holiday around 11 o'clock Monday night about 75 miles south of Pensacola.

The Holiday left Mobile on Monday for a five day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.

According to a news release from Carnival, a passenger heard a splashing sound in the water around 11:00 p.m. and reported it to a crewmember. The ship was turned around to search for Vilborg. Rescue crews lowered lifeboats to search for her. The crew also contacted the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard has searched approximately 1,214 square miles, an area larger than Rhode Island.

Vilborg's son says she and her husband decided just two weeks ago to take the cruise to celebrate her birthday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with this individual and their family and friends," said a Carnival spokesperson.

News 5 first reported this story as BREAKING NEWS on wkrg.com
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