Passenger from Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Died After Falling Overboard

This past weekend, a passenger aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Icon of the Seas jumped overboard when it was sailing from Miami towards Roatan, Honduras for a seven-day Caribbean trip. The Icon of the Seas was around 300 miles from Miami when a guy jumped overboard, according to the well-known cruise enthusiast website Cruise Hive.

Regarding how the passenger got off the cruise liner and into the ocean, many opinions exist. The article’s title from Cruise Hive describes the person as having “jumped,” however the content quotes other passengers who said the passenger “jumped/fell” overboard or just “went overboard.” The man “jumped,” according to the New York Post, which likewise referenced anonymous “officials” as the source of the information. The Independent newspaper said that the passenger “reportedly jumped” based on information from the New York Post, but once more it did not include any information from closed-circuit television or eyewitnesses. The man “jumped,” according to the Daily Mail UK, which exclusively cited Cruise Hive as its source of information.

Sad end to this latest person going overboard from a #cruise ship who succumbed to his injuries from the fall . . . 🚢☹️ https://t.co/8xQHKpsx8d

— James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) May 28, 2024

Man overboard via @RoyalCaribbean's Icon of the Seas #cruise / successful rescue🚢🛟😕 https://t.co/hEq3cGQD0A

— James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) May 27, 2024

The passenger was saved after almost two hours, according to the first postings from Twitter (X). According to AIS tracking, the cruise liner ultimately made a U-turn and went back to where it had been. I first reported that the man went overboard and was retrieved safely yesterday morning. I was awakened to the tragic news that the man had passed away, presumably as a result of his injuries sustained in the fall from the 20-story ship. It is unknown how and why the man went overboard in specifics. We don’t know if the two-hour wait for help caused him to pass away or if he had major injuries that ultimately caused his death.

According to pictures shared on Threads by renowned cruise photographer Alfredo Zayas Cotto, the passenger’s body was reportedly wrapped with a blanket as the rescue craft engaged in the operation returned to the cruise liner.

This year, a lot of hype around the launch of Royal Caribbean’s newest enormous cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas. A 17,000-square-foot water park with six waterslides, seven pools (including the 40,000-gallon Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea), and Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea is what the enormous ship “boasts,” according to the Exploreist. We are aware that the Icon of the Seas lacks a cutting-edge automated man overboard device, which may have expedited the rescue process beyond two hours.

This was the 410th passenger from a cruise ship (or ferry) to fall overboard in the previous 24 years, according to cruise expert Dr. Ross Klein, who keeps the official record of persons who go overboard and has testified before the US Congress on the subject several times.

Source:

• https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2024/05/articles/disappearances/overboard-guest-dies-after-he-goes-overboard-from-royal-caribbeans-icon-of-the-seas/
• The Independent
• New York Post
• Daily Mail UK

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