Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)- The Coast Guard is searching for a 23-year-old Citrus County man who fell off the Carnival Victory cruise ship 33 miles northwest of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba.
Missing is 23 year old Brandon Paul of Floral City. He reportedly went overboard from the eighth deck of the cruise ship at approximately 3 a.m.
The cruise ship launched a search boat and contacted watch standers at the Seventh Coast Guard District Command Center. The watch standers directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton to search for Paul.
The cruise ship continues to search on scene. Due to the proximity of the incident to Cuban territorial seas, Cuban search and rescue authorities have launched assets to assist in the search efforts.