For one household, their Christmas cruise has changed into an unimaginable tragedy.
An 82-year-old cruise visitor sadly misplaced her life in an uncommon, however tragic accident whereas visiting the Jap Caribbean port of Philipsburg, St. Maarten, on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
In response to the Police Pressure of Sint Maarten, the incident unfolded at round 5 p.m. native time on the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Amenities – after authorities acquired a distressing name a couple of vacationer falling into the water from her electrical wheelchair.
“The Police Pressure of Sint Maarten (KPSM) proclaims with deep remorse a tragic incident that passed off at roughly 5:00 PM on the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Amenities,“ The Police Pressure of Sint Maarten shared.
“On the said time, Police Central Dispatch acquired a report regarding a customer from one of many cruise ships in port who had fallen into the ocean from her electrical wheelchair,” the police power added.
Preliminary stories counsel that the unidentified girl’s electrical wheelchair malfunctioned, which led to her unlucky fall. It’s unclear if she was utilizing her private machine or if she had rented the wheelchair during her crusing.
First responders arrived rapidly to rescue the sufferer and carry out life saving measures, however she couldn’t be revived. It’s unclear what accidents she might have sustained within the fall or whereas she was within the water – or if she already had well being circumstances that additionally negatively impacted the accident’s final result.
“Preliminary investigations counsel {that a} malfunction within the sufferer’s electrical wheelchair, an 82-year-old feminine, might have contributed to her fall into the water. Regardless of one of the best efforts of medical personnel to manage emergency resuscitation, the sufferer sadly succumbed on the scene,” continued the assertion from the authorities.
Whereas we now have acquired a tip from a customer in port that day that the deceased passenger was crusing onboard AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar, this has not been confirmed.
5 different ships had been additionally within the port that day – which means the utmost variety of ships had been visiting – together with Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Azzurra, P&O Cruises’ Arvia, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, and Superstar Cruises’ Superstar Ascent.
A Tragic Month for Cruising
December 2024 has sadly turned out to be a reasonably grim month for cruising – with this deadly accident following a collection of man overboard incidents.
Simply the day earlier than this aged passenger’s premature demise, on December 26, a 51-year-old man went overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic. On the time of the incident, the ship was crusing northbound from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, en path to Nice Stirrup Cay within the Bahamas.
The suitable authorities had been instantly notified and a search and rescue mission rapidly started – which was additionally assisted by Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam, as she was already crusing close by.
However regardless of one of the best efforts of all of the crew and first responders, the search effort concluded with out success.
Learn Additionally: Are Cruises Protected? What You Actually Must Know
Earlier within the month, on December 21, a feminine passenger tried to leap from Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess – however hit a lifeboat and fell to a decrease deck.
Regardless of the onboard medical staff’s greatest efforts, the 48-year-old visitor succumbed to her accidents.
Even earlier in December, each Royal Caribbean’s Imaginative and prescient of the Seas and one other Princess Cruises ship – Ruby Princess – skilled man-overboard conditions that led to tragedy.
That mentioned, the incident on Ruby Princess was distinctive – because the unidentified 72-year-old American wasn’t reported as lacking till the cruise’s conclusion and it’s unclear when he truly went overboard.
Cruise Hive’s ideas are with the relations, journey companions, and mates who’ve misplaced their family members.
