FATHER OF THREE THOMAS GIGLER, 56, IDENTIFIED AFTER GOING OVERBOARD FROM CARNIVAL CRUISE DAYS BEFORE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA — A California father of three has been identified after going overboard from a Carnival cruise ship while traveling with his wife and their three sons — just days before the couple were due to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.

Thomas Gigler, 56, of Redlands, California, was aboard the Carnival Panorama when he went overboard on September 19 as the ship was returning from Mexico toward Long Beach.

His disappearance prompted a major search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican Navy and commercial vessels in the area.

The circumstances surrounding what happened before Gigler went overboard remain unclear.

FAMILY TRIP TURNED INTO A DESPERATE SEARCH

Gigler had been enjoying a seven-night cruise with his wife, Michelle, 48, and their three sons.

The Carnival Panorama departed Long Beach on September 13 and sailed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, before beginning its return journey to California.

But on September 19, Gigler could not be located aboard the ship.

His wife alerted cruise staff, who began searching for him.

According to reports, announcements were made asking him to come forward. When he could not be found, passengers were eventually asked to return to their cabins while crew members conducted a more extensive search of the vessel.

Carnival subsequently reviewed its onboard surveillance systems.

The footage confirmed that Gigler had gone overboard.

CAMERAS CONFIRMED HE WENT OVERBOARD

A Carnival spokesperson said that when the company was notified of a missing passenger, the ship’s team initiated search and investigation procedures.

That included reviewing CCTV footage and notifying both U.S. and Mexican authorities.

The surveillance footage allowed investigators to establish that Gigler had gone overboard while the ship was traveling from Puerto Vallarta toward Long Beach.

Reports have said he went overboard from an upper deck of the ship.

However, neither Carnival nor authorities have publicly established why he went overboard.

U.S. AND MEXICAN AUTHORITIES JOINED THE SEARCH

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center Alameda began coordinating the search.

Fixed-wing aircraft were deployed, while the Mexican Navy and commercial vessels operating in the area also assisted.

The Coast Guard said its search efforts were being coordinated with Mexican authorities and other vessels.

The Carnival Panorama later returned to Long Beach after completing its scheduled seven-night cruise.

Despite the extensive search, the latest reports available on September 23 said Gigler had not been located.

HE WAS DAYS AWAY FROM HIS 15TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The timing of Gigler’s disappearance has made the tragedy particularly painful for his family.

Thomas and Michelle were preparing to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on September 23, just four days after he went overboard.

The couple lived in Redlands with their three sons.

Gigler worked as a computer programmer and reportedly spent 24 years working for software company Esri.

Instead of celebrating their anniversary together, Michelle and the couple’s children have been left waiting for answers about what happened.

FAMILY SAYS THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED

Gigler’s sister, Wendy Dowden, has spoken publicly about the family’s shock.

She said relatives were struggling to understand why he would have gone overboard and disputed suggestions that marital problems were responsible.

Dowden said the family believed something unexpected may have happened shortly before the incident.

However, these are family statements and theories, not an official explanation.

Authorities and Carnival have not publicly confirmed what prompted Gigler to go overboard.

PASSENGERS CREATED A MEMORIAL ABOARD THE SHIP

The disappearance also affected other passengers aboard the Carnival Panorama.

After learning what had happened, passengers reportedly created a small memorial for Gigler.

Handwritten notes, prayers and messages of support were left for his family.

Images and videos shared by passengers showed travelers coming together to remember the missing father while the search operation continued.

THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

Although surveillance footage has confirmed that Gigler went overboard, many questions remain unanswered.

Investigators have not publicly explained what happened in the moments immediately before he went overboard or why he left the ship.

Reports from passengers have included different accounts of events leading up to his disappearance, but those accounts have not been independently established by authorities.

For that reason, the circumstances should remain described as unclear while the investigation continues.

A FAMILY WAITING FOR ANSWERS

Thomas Gigler’s disappearance transformed what was supposed to be a family holiday and anniversary celebration into a desperate search.

His wife and three sons were aboard the ship when he disappeared, and his wider family has continued to seek answers.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican authorities and other vessels have been involved in efforts to locate him.

As of the latest reports on September 23, Thomas Gigler had not been found, and authorities had not publicly determined what led to him going overboard.

For his family, the anniversary that was supposed to mark 15 years of marriage has instead become a day of uncertainty and grief.