A 44-year old female passenger travelling aboard ‘Carnival Elation’ cruise ship lost her life Friday morning, after she fell from her balcony to several decks below, while the ship was underway on four-day trip to Bahamas.
“The ship’s medical team responded immediately, but, unfortunately, she passed away…The incident was reported to all proper authorities and CARE Team support was offered to fellow travelers and her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and her family,” said Carnival Cruise Line in an official statement.
At the time of the accident, the Carnival Elation was en route from Jacksonville, Florida to Freeport in the Bahamas.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact causes of the fall.
This is the second passenger incident onboard the Carnival Elation and the third fatal accident the company saw in less than a year. In February 2017, a 24-year old man fell overboard, while the ship was underway northeast of Great Harbor Cay in the Bahamas and he was never found.
More recently, in October 2017, an 8 year-old girl died following her fall on the Carnival Glory, during passengers’ disembarkation while the vessel was docked in Miami.
Man overboard incidents have been proven significantly alarming for the cruise industry. According to Pure Tech Systems, 22 people fall off a cruise ship every year, 86% of whom do not survive or are never found. An object falling from the top level of a large cruise ship can reach speeds of 70 mph.