Footage of the harrowing announcement by the captain of the Carnival Splendor cruise ship has surfaced after two passengers died within hours on the same voyage.

Footage shared to Reddit captured the tragic moment Captain Mario Imbimbo addressed more than 3,000 passengers the morning after an elderly guest vanished.

‘Our team has completed the review of our man overboard cameras and sadly we have been able to confirm the person has gone overboard,’ he told passengers in a ship-wide announcement around 7am.

‘Our operations team and the appropriate authorities have already been notified. We have been instructed to complete assisted search and rescue activities.’

He added the man’s family were being supported by crew and asked passengers to keep them in their thoughts.

‘The family and travelling companions have been notified and are receiving support from our care team,’ he said.

‘Please join us as we keep our guest and his family in our thoughts and prayers.’

A Carnival Cruise spokesman confirmed the footage was genuine and said several  similar announcements had been made to update passengers on the tragedy.

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Captain Mario Imbimbo (right) announced to 3000+ passengers a second guest had died during the voyage

The tragedy came just hours after another passenger, a 67-year-old Tasmanian woman, died earlier on Friday while snorkelling near shipwrecks at Moreton Island.

She was brought to shore by an off-duty lifesaver before being pronounced dead on the beach, despite efforts to revive her on the beach.

Although the two deaths occurred within hours of each other, authorities say they are not believed to be linked.

The man, aged in his 70s, was travelling with family on the 14-deck ‘fun ship’, which had departed Moreton Island and was bound for Sydney when he was reported missing.

A review of CCTV confirmed fears he had climbed over a safety railing and jumped into the sea.

It is understood alcohol and gambling were not a factor in the lead up to the tragedy, according to sources close to the investigation.

‘The male guest was travelling with family who alerted the ship’s crew of a possible missing person, and a review of the CCTV footage confirmed the guest’s action,’ a Carnival Cruise Line spokesman said.

‘All appropriate authorities have been alerted and Carnival will assist authorities in their investigation upon the ship’s return to Sydney.

‘Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved one.’

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The ship boasts a waterpark and popular lightning slide

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The adults-only Serenity Deck on Carnival Splendor

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Carnival Splendor docked at Sydney Harbour

He was reported missing north-east of Cape Moreton, triggering an intensive air and sea search involving multiple aircraft and vessels, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

Emergency crews scoured the waters after the man went overboard into the ocean about 30km northeast of Moreton Island, off the south-east Queensland coast.

A Queensland police spokesman confirmed the extent of the multi-day search operation

‘An extensive search and rescue operation continued for three days,’ they said.

‘Water Police were assisted by AMSA, POLAIR, QG Air, Surf Life Saving Queensland Helicopters, Marine Rescue Bribie and Gold Coast, Redcliffe Coast Guard, merchant ships, the cruise line as well as commercial aviation and marine vessels.’

‘The suspension of the search is subject to additional information or intelligence being received regarding the man’s disappearance.’

Passengers said an initial alert about a man overboard was made about 1.15am, followed by a further announcement around 2.30am confirming the ship was turning back as the coast guard and nearby commercial vessels joined the search.

In a later update between 7am and 8am, the captain said helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft had been deployed as the search continued.

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Guests boarding and departing were sent a note that disembarkation and boarding times were delayed due to the search and rescuse mission

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Captain Mario Imbimbo alongside fellow Carnival Cruise-liner captains

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The vessel was eventually released from the operation mid-afternoon and resumed its journey, arriving in Sydney about 6pm on Sunday, several hours behind schedule.

One passenger said the atmosphere on the ship became noticeably darker in the wake of the double tragedies.

‘The mood on board changed dramatically. It was no longer fun. It was so sombre,’ they said.

The cruise-liner shared a letter with passengers set to board the 113,300-ton ship that made no mention that a man died.

The carefully worded note ignored the suspected suicide just hours after another passenger drowned during a snorkelling excursion the day prior.

The Carnival Splendor features multiple restaurants, a water park, the Green Lightning waterslide and a 21,000sq ft Cloud 9 Spa.

Pricing varies depending on cabin type and trip length, with short trips starting from about $99 and rising to more than $350 per person per day, while nine-night voyages start from around $899 to $1,150.