Overview
A tragic incident occurred on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship as a young man jumped overboard while the ship was sailing between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island.
Details of the Incident
- The 20-year-old passenger jumped from one of the decks, causing distress among the passengers onboard.
- Eyewitnesses reported that the young man’s father and brother witnessed the impulsive decision to jump overboard.
- Some passengers described the act as a spur-of-the-moment decision, with the young man appearing to be under the influence of alcohol.
Eyewitness Accounts
According to Bryan Sims, who was with the young man before the incident:
“I had been hanging out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30. He seemed quite drunk. As we were heading back, his father appeared to be scolding him. When we reached near them, he told his father, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window.”
Deborah Morrison, another passenger, described the scene as chaotic:
“The crew was immediately alerted as there was a lot of yelling and commotion. His family was distraught, completely devastated.”
Response and Search Operation
Royal Caribbean confirmed that its crew promptly responded to the incident and initiated a search and rescue operation alongside the US Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard continues the search operation in the waters off Cuba, but as of now, the individual has not been located.
Implications and Statistics
Incidents of individuals going overboard on cruise ships, whether accidental or deliberate, have been reported over the years. Between 2000 and 2020, approximately 386 cases were reported on major cruise lines, leading to tragic outcomes.
Conclusion
As the search and rescue operation continues, the passengers onboard and the crew offer support and assistance to the family of the missing individual during this difficult time.