- The 18-story Liberty of the Seas was traveling between Cuba and the Bahamas’
- The man reportedly said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now,’ before he jumped
- About 386 people have gone overboard on cruise ships in the last two decades
A 20-year-old man has jumped overboard from an 18-story Royal Caribbean cruise ship in front of his horrified family.
The Liberty of the Seas was traveling between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when the shocking incident happened at about 4am Thursday.
Witnesses told the New York Post the man’s father and brother watched as he went overboard.
Onlookers said it appeared to be an impulsive decision.
Passenger Bryan Sims told The Post he had been hanging out with the man, who was ‘pretty drunk’ in the hut tub until 3.30am.
The 18-story Liberty of the Seas was traveling between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island when the shocking incident happened at about 4am Thursday. (Stock image)
Witnesses said the man’s father and brother watched as he went overboard. (stock photo)
Sims added: ‘As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us.
‘His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.’
The man reportedly said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now,’ before he jumped over the 18 stories.
Witness Deborah Morisson told The Post the family was ‘horrified.’
A spokesman for the US Coast Guard told DailyMail.com on Friday morning they still consider it a rescue operation.
Passengers reported on social media that the ship stopped moving after the man jumped, with the coast guard arriving to take over the search.
Royal Caribbean said: ‘The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, who has taken over the search. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.
‘For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.’
About 386 people have gone overboard on cruise ships in the last two decades, according to the Washington Post.
About 386 people have gone overboard on cruise ships in the last two decades. Last year, Cameron Robbins , 18, into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas and vanished
Last year, Cameron Robbins, 18, into shark-infested waters in the Bahamas and vanished.
The search for Robbins was called off two days later.
Robbins had recently returned from a weekend fishing trip on the Louisiana Gulf Coast with his father and brother before he left for his graduation celebration trip in the Bahamas.
The boat was near the uninhabited Athol Island when Robbins was reportedly dared to jump off into the ocean.
Social media users pointed out how Robbins’ friends were heard laughing and bidding him farewell instead of trying to stop him or help him back onboard.
One user posted a video demanding to know who was heard saying ‘bye bye’ on the video.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk