Exclusive
MYSTERY DEEPENS
Arron Hough death riddle as cruise ship expert says it’s ‘extremely difficult’ to simply fall from such a large liner
THE mystery surrounding British entertainer Arron Hough has deepened as an expert claims it is “extremely difficult” to accidentally fall overboard on modern cruise ships.
Arron, 20, from Sunderland, was last seen on Christmas Day aboard the Harmony of the Seas – the second biggest liner on the planet - some 267 miles off Puerto Rico.
14
It is still not known what happened to the young Brit who was spotted on CCTV at around 4am on Tuesday entering Deck 5 of the ship.
Adam Coulter, UK Managing Editor of Cruise Critic, said the rules and safety features on big cruise liners mean it is unlikely that the 20-year-old fell overboard accidentally.
He told The Sun Online: “It is extremely difficult to fall overboard a large, well-designed cruise ship such as Harmony of the Seas.
“All cruise ships have to adhere to exceptionally strict international rules and regulations with regards onboard safety, and cruise lines continue to capitalise on the latest technologies to ensure these regulations are met effectively.
“Thanks to such strict rules, and a host of innovative design features regarding high railings and balcony heights, cruise ships are an incredibly safe form of travel.
“We can’t recall any cases in recent memory where someone accidentally fell overboard, without an underlying cause.”
14
Yesterday, the US Coast Guard announced that it had suspended the search for the dancer and singer.
In the week before he fell overboard, Arron posted a series of dark and cryptic messages online which were in sharp contrast to his usual posts showing him having fun with pals on board the giant ship.
A week before he vanished, the 20-year-old tweeted: “Social media is the killer of people.”
He also posted a message which complained of “the fake lives we live on social media.”
14
14
The post added: “…pretending to all of our followers that we're having such an amazing crazy ride when actually we're not.
“We struggle, we have hard times but we hide this with happy pictures we post ...
“…which is fine to keep sadness but sometimes you gotta embrace the facts that you're feeling down and you're feeling alone.
“But don't think this is a bad thing, to embrace the positives you also have to acknowledge the negatives.”
14
He also wrote: "Gonna kill someone f***ing hell" among a series of positive messages.
In a tweet on December 21, he posted a cryptic message which read: "Beneath the water is beauty. Always look beneath the surface before you decide on things."
Arron, a cast member in the musical Grease onboard, trained as a dancer and singer at the Urdang Academy theatre school in London.
The alarm on the ship was raised when Arron didn't show up for work on Tuesday.
Once authorities had been alerted, the Harmony of the Seas was many miles away on its voyage towards the island of St Maarten.
14
Suspending the search at 2.30pm today, Commander Christopher Douglas, chief of response for Coast Guard Sector San Juan, expressed his sympathy for the Brit's loved ones.
He said: "We've been in contact with members of Mr Hough's family throughout our search efforts and know this is a very difficult and painful time for them.
“Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly."
The Coast Guard was alerted to Hough's disappearance at 1.45pm on Christmas Day - almost 10 hours after Hough was last seen on CCTV at around 4am entering Deck 5 of the ship.
It scrambled a ship and an HC-130 Hercules plane from Florida to look for him.
Crews searched for 83 hours by plane and boat and covered 3,707 square miles.
14
14
14
14
Royal Caribbean said it conducted a ship-wide search when Arron failed to report for work.
Staff used CCTV to trace his last movements on Deck 5, which houses the theatre and a number of bars and restaurants.
The cruise firm said in a statement: "We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship's closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4am and was not seen again.
"Local authorities were notified and a ship-wide search for the crew member was conducted."
A former theatre school classmate of Arron told The Sun Online: "It's a complete shock. I spoke to him before Christmas.
"He was fine to me, he was a really really happy guy.
"He had no problems that I knew of.
“He was talented, outgoing and young. He just wanted to be a performer."
The Urdang Academy tweeted: "We are all praying for and his family.
"Please keep up your hope and faith that he is found safe and sound as soon as possible.”
The cruise company says its care team is providing support to his family, adding its "thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time".
A friend of Arron said she was “heartbroken beyond words” at the news.
14
14
14
14
She said: “Arron is the type of person people can only wish to have in their lives.
“He lights up any room like no one else can and everyone who knows and loves him has so many happy and cherished memories.
“His infectious laugh and beaming smile is enough to pull anyone out from feeling down in the dumps.
“I hope and pray we get our Arron back home where he belongs, the light of our lives has gone out."
Others shared their thoughts and prayers for Arron online.
Fellow singer and actor Andy Rose said: "Always have and always will be a family at the Urdang Academy #PrayForArron".
MOST READ IN NEWS
Kathryn-Anne Rivers said: "So heart breaking! Praying for Arron and for everyone Urdang Academy and especially Arrons family that your boy is brought home!
"Such an incredible young man!"
Royal Caribbean said Harmony of the Seas is currently sailing on a seven-night Christmas cruise that departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday.
The ship's first port of call was Philipsburg, on St Maarten, before stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Labadee, Haiti.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.'