A man has died in hospital after falling from a ferry in Liverpool, police have said.
The unnamed 44-year-old fell from the Stena Estrid boat, which was travelling from Belfast to Birkenhead, on Saturday morning.
A three-hour search was carried out before he was found. From there the man was airlifted by a HM Coastguard helicopter and taken by ambulance to hospital.
Merseyside Police has said the man, from north Wales, died shortly afterwards and that his next of kin has been informed.
A police statement added: "HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a report of a missing man from a passenger vessel off Liverpool. The alarm was raised at about 8.15am on 20 January and a search was carried out.
"The HM Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon was sent as well as RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Hoylake, Rhyl, Lytham St Annes and Llandudno. A man was airlifted from the water by the HM Coastguard helicopter at about 11.20am, transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.
"Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team assisted by securing a helicopter landing site. Merseyside Police were informed."
Stena Line, which runs the ferry service, did not provide a statement but told the Liverpool Echo that operations will continue as normal.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard added: "HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a report of a missing man from a passenger vessel off Liverpool. The alarm was raised at about 8.15am on 20 January and a search was carried out.
"The HM Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon was sent as well as RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Hoylake, Rhyl, Lytham St Annes and Llandudno. A man was airlifted from the water by the HM Coastguard helicopter at about 11.20am, transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.
"Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team assisted by securing a helicopter landing site. Merseyside Police were informed."
