Search underway for Queen Mary 2 crew member

A search is under way after a crew member on the Queen Mary 2 ocean liner is reported to have fallen overboard in the Atlantic.

The crewman is believed to have fallen from the ship early in the morning on Saturday. (15 August)

A spokeswoman for the cruise line Cunard said: "We have clearly established that the crew member went overboard earlier this morning.

"The ship is off the coast of Newfoundland and has now retraced its route to search for the crew member.

"We are working closely with local authorities.

"The ship is scheduled to arrive in Halifax (Canada) on Monday."

The Southampton-based cruise ship left Britain on Tuesday and is currently off the coast of the Canadian island Newfoundland.

An emergency search is underway as efforts are made to retrace its route.

The Cunard website describes the QM2 - launched in 2003 - as its "flagship" and "the most magnificent ocean liner ever built".