DAD-OF-THREE VANISHES FROM CRUISE SHIP DAYS BEFORE 15TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AS MASSIVE SEARCH IS SUSPENDED

A California father of three has disappeared from a cruise ship just days before his 15th wedding anniversary, leaving his family devastated after an enormous search across more than 1,700 square miles of the Pacific Ocean was suspended.

Thomas Gigler, 56, from Redlands, California, was travelling aboard the Carnival Panorama with his wife, Michelle, 48, and their three sons, aged 13, 11 and nine.

The family had been on a seven-night cruise to Mexico when Thomas went overboard during the ship’s return journey toward Long Beach.

His disappearance has left his family struggling to understand what happened.

A FAMILY HOLIDAY TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE

The Carnival Panorama left Long Beach on September 13 for a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise, with scheduled stops including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

Thomas was travelling with his wife and their three children.

The couple were due to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on September 23, just days after Thomas disappeared.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the cruise ship reported that Thomas had last been seen at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18.

A missing-person report was made the following afternoon.

Carnival said its crew immediately began search and investigation procedures, including reviewing onboard CCTV footage and contacting the U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards.

CCTV CONFIRMED HE WENT OVERBOARD

Passengers on the ship were initially told that a guest was missing.

The captain instructed passengers to return to their staterooms while crew members conducted accountability checks and searched the vessel.

After reviewing surveillance footage, the crew confirmed that Thomas had gone overboard.

Carnival subsequently notified authorities in both countries.

The ship was approximately 57 miles off the Mexican coast when the incident was reported, according to the Coast Guard’s account.

The Panorama then continued its journey toward California after the search operation aboard the vessel.

MASSIVE SEARCH COVERS MORE THAN 1,700 SQUARE MILES

The disappearance triggered a multinational search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican authorities and civilian vessels.

Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft were deployed, while a Mexican naval vessel and six other vessels assisted with surface searches.

Search teams spent more than 41 hours looking across the Pacific.

In total, authorities searched more than 1,707 square miles of ocean.

But no trace of Thomas was found.

On September 23, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the active search had been suspended pending new information.

The agency said the decision was made after considering all available information and extended its condolences to Thomas’s family and loved ones.

HIS FAMILY IS LEFT SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

Thomas’s sister, Wendy Dowden, told reporters that the family was struggling to understand why he went overboard.

She said the circumstances appeared completely out of character for him.

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

His family’s comments about what may have happened are their own understanding of the circumstances and have not been confirmed by investigators.

The Coast Guard has said the incident remains under investigation.

A FATHER, HUSBAND AND LONGTIME COMPUTER PROGRAMMER

Thomas was a longtime computer programmer who reportedly spent 24 years working for Esri, a geographic information software company.

He and Michelle lived in Redlands, east of Los Angeles, with their three sons.

For the family, what was supposed to be a special anniversary trip has instead become an unimaginable loss.

Passengers aboard the Carnival Panorama also created a small memorial for Thomas, leaving handwritten messages, prayers and other tributes for his family during the journey back to California.

THE SEARCH HAS ENDED — BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN

The Coast Guard’s decision to suspend the search does not mean the investigation is over.

Authorities have not publicly explained the circumstances that led Thomas to go overboard, and his family is still waiting for answers.

The Carnival Panorama returned to Long Beach on September 20 after completing its scheduled cruise.

But Thomas never came home.

His wife and three sons are now facing the devastating aftermath of a family holiday that was supposed to mark 15 years of marriage.

A father left home for an anniversary cruise with his family. Days later, an enormous search across the Pacific ended without finding him.

Thomas Gigler remains missing, and his family is still waiting for answers.