A 33-year-old Chinese national who went missing while hiking Mount Liamuiga in St. Kitts has been found dead, bringing a tragic end to a major search and rescue operation that lasted nearly a week.
Wang Zyuan disappeared on 27th May 2026 after becoming lost on the popular hiking trail that leads to the summit of the Caribbean island’s dormant stratovolcano. Authorities confirmed on 1st June 2026 that his body had been located by one of the search teams.
“It is with deep regret that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) confirms that Mr Wang Zyuan, who had been missing on the Mt. Liamuiga trail since Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, was located deceased on Monday, June 1st, 2026, by one of the search teams,” the police force said in a statement shared on social media.
Investigators are now working to determine the circumstances surrounding Wang’s death.
The incident began when Wang reportedly contacted emergency services at approximately 2 pm local time on 27th May after becoming disoriented on the mountain. However, communication with first responders was quickly lost, leaving search crews with limited information about his exact whereabouts.
Questions also remain about Wang’s connection to the cruise industry. Authorities have not formally confirmed whether he was travelling as a passenger or working as a crew member aboard a cruise ship visiting the island that day.
Cruise tracking records indicate that Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas was the only cruise vessel docked in Basseterre on 27th May. Royal Caribbean has not publicly identified Wang as an employee, although photographs circulating online appear to show him wearing a name badge.
Extensive Search Operation Across Difficult Terrain
The search effort involved multiple agencies and volunteer groups who spent days navigating the challenging mountain terrain in the hope of locating Wang alive.
Personnel from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, the Police Training School, the Forest Unit, the Red Cross, the Ross University K9 Unit and community volunteers all participated in the operation.
Search teams combed the heavily forested slopes of Mount Liamuiga daily while also deploying technology, including mobile phone location data, in an attempt to narrow down Wang’s position.
“Since May 27th, joint teams from the RSCNPF, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, the Police Training School, the Forest Unit, the Red Cross, the Ross University K9 Unit, and dedicated community volunteers have searched the mountain daily,” the police force stated.
“We are profoundly grateful to every person who gave their time and effort to this operation.”
Although rescuers were unable to save Wang, authorities noted that the recovery of his body provides answers for his family and loved ones after days of uncertainty.
Hiking Accidents Have Claimed Other Cruise Guests
The tragedy is the latest in a series of hiking-related incidents involving cruise travellers in recent years.
In October 2025, an 81-year-old passenger died on Australia’s Lizard Island after becoming separated from her Coral Expeditions vessel during an excursion. The woman had been attempting the demanding hike to Cook’s Look but did not make it back to the ship, with her absence reportedly going unnoticed until later.
Earlier in 2025, another cruise passenger was found dead after disappearing from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss while visiting Juneau, Alaska. Searchers eventually located the guest approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line of a hiking trail in July.
Just two months later, another serious hiking accident occurred near Juneau when two cruise passengers fell from a separate trail. One man survived the fall while the other lost his life.
The latest incident serves as another reminder of the risks associated with strenuous hiking excursions, particularly in unfamiliar destinations where weather conditions, difficult terrain and limited communication can quickly turn a routine outing into an emergency.
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