A passenger has plunged from a TUI-operated cruise ship sparking a massive rescue operation.

Spanish coastguards and police are searching waters after the adults-only Marella Explorer 2 sounded a Man Overboard alert north of the Canary Islands.

A helicopter and rescue boats joined the ongoing operation after the alarm was sounded yesterday morning as the 14-deck vessel headed to the Canaries from Madeira. The ship’s captain slowed it to a near-stop before activating "protocol procedures" which included reviewing cameras, launching marker buoys and conducting circular search manoeuvres.

Tenerife daily El Dia said the incident happened when the cruise liner was around 16 nautical miles from Punta de Teno on the island’s most northwestern point.

Spanish coastguards, who have yet to make

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