Cadet overboard on Gorch Fock, presumed dead
 

In her 50th year, my old ship seems to have a streak of bad luck.
First a sailing crew enlisted man manages to miss the deck and the pier on pierside training (only getting a soaking in Kiel harbor), now the middle watch loses a female cadet overboard in the north Sea.
Its been 17 hours now, so I fear they won't find her in time.
In that water temperature, you last only a few hours
Strange thing is, she didnt fall out of the tops or slipped while laying aloft, instead she simply went missing on watch.
Since nobody noticed, I gather she must've been bow or stern lookout.
On bow and stern lookout, nobody will notice your absence until your next semaphore singout, so if she went overboard directly after "All's well on the forecastle, lights are on", they might have not noticed it for half an hour.
If she was on lookout, at least she might be still afloat because if you fall overboard wearing your safety harness, you sink like a stone if you don't get rid of it.
I hope they can recover her...

They told us Gorch Fock never lost a man overboard, but I guess its a first time for everything, even though it was not a man.
Apparently the call is now "human overboard" anyway...

Damn it, didn't even hear about that.:-?
Lets hope for the best (although there is only little hope left..:cry:).

Fingers crossed guys....let's hope she is found in time :yep:

Terrible news in did...but in training or not we all aways use a safety line and a safety jacket... ;)

She most probably doesn't want to be found!

The ship was sailing in calm waters and you just don't fall overboard under theses circumstances - except you're drunk ... or want to commit suicide.
The latter seems to be most likely in this case.

or pushed overboard, or had a heart attack or stroke or other medical problem and fell overboard or .........