Search called off for Canadian who jumped off Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Adventure of the Seas cruise ship; image via Royal Caribbean promo video

The search for a Canadian man who jumped from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been called off, days after passengers watched Tien Phuoc Nguyen leap from the side of the ship and fall into rough waters off the coast of Puerto Rico.

The United States Coast Guard called of its search for Nguyen on Tuesday three days after first launching its hunt for the man lost at sea.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this missing passenger during these difficult times," Coast Guard Capt. Drew Pearson said in a statement.

Nguyen, 26, was last seen on board the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship on Saturday. Passengers and surveillance video confirm that he jumped overboard about 15 nautical miles east of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.

[ Related: Cruise ship passenger jumps off Royal Caribbean vessel ]

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a 44-hour search that included the use of helicopters, airplanes and patrol boats. The FBI continues to investigate the circumstances that may have led to him jumping overboard.

On that front, very little is known.

"We are looking into whether he jumped, or whether it was an accident, or whether he committed suicide, or whether someone pushed him," Moises Quinones, public information officer for the FBI's San Juan Office, told ABC News.

[ More Brew: Replacing spoiled food step in Ontario ice storm recovery ]

Nguyen was on board the Adventures of the Seas ship for a seven-night cruise with his family at the time of the incident. It was their final night on board when, according to passengers, he jumped over the side of the ship and into the rough sea.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the captain stopped the ship immediately and alerted authorities.

Nguyen is a Canadian citizen but his hometown has not been confirmed. His family has reportedly returned home.

Want to know what news is brewing in Canada?
Follow @MRCoutts on Twitter.