Gambler jumps from cruise ship after losing $857,500 in casino
HONG KONG - A 51-year-old man from mainland China died when he jumped off a 13-deck cruise ship after losing HK$5 million ($857,500) at the baccarat table, according to The Standard newspaper.
The gambler, identified by police only as Xu, jumped from the Star Cruises vessel SuperStar Aquarius as it sailed back to Hong Kong from international waters on Sunday, the report said.
An alert was raised and rescuers retrieved Xu's body after a search that lasted almost an hour.
He was pronounced dead by the ship's doctor.
Xu reportedly boarded the ship on Saturday for a two-day gambling trip.
He was seen placing bets at the baccarat table after dinner.
According to some passengers, he gambled until 8am on Sunday and lost almost HK$5 million, The Standard reported.
He was seen on the deck for about an hour before he jumped, said the newspaper.
Genting Hong Kong, the company that operates the Star Cruises fleet, said the ship had 1,500 passengers on board at the time of the incident, according to the report.
Besides casino facilities, SuperStar Aquarius has a range of entertainment and sports facilities, according to the report.
The case was classified as "man overboard" with no suspicious circumstances, police said.
Originally Posted at: www.todayonline.com
