A tragic incident occurred on the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship when a woman in her 20s went overboard near the Channel Islands.

The alert was issued at approximately 02:00 BST, initiating a search north of Les Casquets rocks, west of Alderney.

The French search and rescue service located and retrieved the casualty using a helicopter.

Unfortunately, doctors later pronounced her dead.

A fellow passenger, Neil, reported an overboard alarm was sounded three times, prompting passengers to pray for the missing individual.

The ship's progress to Southampton was delayed during the search.

MSC Cruises expressed their sorrow and declined further comments to respect the family's privacy.

The investigation is being conducted by French police.

Rescue efforts involved Channel Islands Air Search, lifeboat crews from Alderney and France, and a helicopter crew near Cherbourg.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is aiding the investigation.

MSC Virtuosa, a 331m-long Maltese-flagged vessel accommodating up to 6,334 passengers, arrived at Southampton at about 08:00, having departed from Cartagena, Spain.