Coast Guard Halts Search For Man Who Jumped From Cruise Ship

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for an Army sergeant who jumped from the top deck of the Carnival Fascination cruise ship.

The Fascination left port in Jacksonville Monday afternoon, heading to Key West.

Officials said a security guard saw Ronald Kemp, 31, leap into the water from a 10th floor deck early Tuesday and fall 87-feet into the water below.

Coast Guard officials say cruise ship crew members tossed life rings into the water immediately after Kemp jumped. The ship then turned around and went back to the area where he went overboard. Several Coast Guard cutters joined the search. Air Force reservists also joined the search.

Kemp had been assigned to Fort Stewart-Hunter Airfield near Savannah, Ga.

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