Coast Guard suspends search for man who fell overboard on Carnival cruise

June 1 (UPI) -- The Coast Guard suspended its search for a man who fell off the Carnival Magic cruise ship about 186 miles east of Jacksonville in the Atlantic Ocean on Memorial Day.

The Coast Guard on Wednesday identified the missing man as Ronnie Pearle, 35, who went overboard as the ship sailed back to its homeport of Norfolk, Va. from the Bahamas The Coast Guard said it searched for him over 5,171 square miles and 60 hours.

Air crews and the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba were used to conduct the search after they received word from Carnival Cruise Lines Monday evening about a man falling overboard.

"The Seventh Coast Guard District dispatched multiple search and rescue assets as soon as we were notified of the missing person," Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, Coast Guard District Seven search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement. "Our command center watchstanders provided search patterns to cutter crews and air crews who actively searched from Monday through Wednesday evening.

"The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly. We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Peale's family and friends."

Carnival Cruise said security footage showed Peale leaning over the railing of his room's balcony and before falling into the water at about 4:10 a.m. on Monday. A GoFundMe.com page shared by his loved one said Pearle was celebrating his significant other's birthday during the trip.