The US Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 56-year-old California father of three who went overboard from a cruise ship during an anniversary trip and is now presumed dead.
Thomas Gigler disappeared from the Carnival Panorama on Saturday as the vessel traveled about 57 miles off Mexico’s coast, according to the Coast Guard.
The Redlands resident was aboard with his wife, Michelle, 48. The couple had been celebrating their anniversary.
The Coast Guard announced Wednesday that it was suspending the search pending any new information. Crews had spent more than 41 hours covering 1,707 square miles of ocean but found no trace of Gigler.
A Mexican Navy vessel and six good Samaritan boats also took part in the effort to locate the missing cruise passenger.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tom Gigler,” said Capt. Jessica Davila, chief of incident management for the Coast Guard Southwest District.
“Decisions to suspend search operations are never easy and are made with careful consideration of all available information. Our hearts are with those impacted by his loss.”
The Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center in Alameda received the first report of a missing passenger at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Carnival had reported that Gigler was last seen around 11:30 p.m. Friday.
Several Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to search for him. Officials also coordinated with Mexico’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center and the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system to identify nearby ships able to help.
Gigler, a computer programmer who worked at Esri for 24 years, was traveling with his family aboard the Carnival Panorama as it sailed from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach.
The family lives in Redlands, approximately 63 miles east of Los Angeles.
Carnival previously confirmed that a male passenger had gone overboard. The cruise line said the crew immediately launched search and investigation procedures, including reviewing surveillance video and notifying authorities in the United States and Mexico.
The Coast Guard suspended the operation after an extensive search of the surrounding waters produced no sightings of Gigler.
When deciding whether to continue a search, the Coast Guard weighs factors such as the time elapsed, environmental conditions and the likelihood that someone could survive in the water.
The agency also uses its Probability of Survival Decision Aid, or PSDA. The computer model, developed by the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, helps estimate survival times for people exposed to cold-water conditions and supports search-and-rescue planning.
The Coast Guard says the model is intended as guidance, not an absolute prediction, and is considered alongside all other information available to rescuers.
After more than 41 hours of searching without a sighting, Gigler remains missing and is presumed dead. His family has not issued any public statements.
It remains unclear why Gigler went overboard.
The Coast Guard said the search may resume if new information comes to light.
Experts say entering cold ocean water can trigger cold shock almost immediately, causing gasping and a rapid increase in heart rate. After about 10 minutes, cold incapacitation can set in, leading to muscle paralysis, while severe hypothermia can develop after roughly an hour.
Survival without protective gear in water under 40°F (4°C) ranges from under 15 to 45 minutes, while warmer waters between 50°F and 60°F (10°C–15°C) can extend survival to 1–6 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
