A major search in the English Channel for a cruise ship crew member who fell overboard has been called off.

Emergency response teams from the RNLI and the Coastguard were launched from Ramsgate and Dover yesterday following reports the member of staff had gone missing from the AIDA Perla.

The ship had been travelling from Hamburg to La Coruna in Spain – but then returned to the spot where the man was believed to have fallen into the sea.

After searching a 25-mile stretch east off the coast of Ramsgate, last night the search was called off after almost 10 hours and will not be restarting.

A spokesperson for the Coastguard confirmed: “At about 6pm on October 22, the search was ended for a man reported overboard from a passenger ship off Ramsgate.”

The Coastguard was initially alerted at about 8.55am yesterday.

The search involved the Coastguard helicopter from Lydd, a Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and the RNLI's all-weather lifeboats from Ramsgate and Dover which were deployed from the two ports at 8.20am and 8.35am.

The cruise ship company has confirmed a male crew member fell overboard early on Sunday morning.

In a new statement this morning, the company confirmed the AIDA Perla had been released from the search operation by the Coastguard yesterday evening and resumed its journey towards La Coruña.

They added: “At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the family of the missing person and his colleagues. In addition, we are in close contact with his family and the AIDAperla crew.

“In the early morning of October 22, a male crew member of AIDAperla fell overboard.

“The captain and crew of AIDAperla immediately initiated all necessary rescue measures and participated in the search in close coordination with the local authorities.”

A police spokesman said: “HM Coastguard has informed Kent Police of a man missing from a vessel that was in the English Channel off the coast of Ramsgate.

“The individual has yet to be located but the force is monitoring the situation and will assist partner agencies if required.”

The RNLI has been approached for further comment.