Pictured: Girl, 8, who died after falling from ship

An eight-year-old girl who died after falling from a cruise ship balcony while it was docked at a port in Miami has been identified. 

Investigators said Zion Smith, 8, fell off the second storey deck of the Carnival Cruise ship Glory around 8.15am ET Saturday morning. 

Now her family is demanding answers.

  

Investigators said Zion Smith, 8, fell off the second storey deck of the Carnival Cruise ship Glory around 8.15am ET Saturday morning

An eight-year-old girl died Saturday morning after falling off the second-story balcony of a cruise ship 

An eight-year-old girl died Saturday morning after falling off the second-story balcony of a cruise ship 

Damien Fox, the girl’s uncle, told ABC Local 10 he also wanted to see surveillance video from inside the ship.  

He described Zion – who is from Nassau in the Bahamas – as a happy and loving child who was doing exceptionally well at school. 

She was travelling with her brother, mother and mother’s boyfriend when the tragedy occurred.

Fox explained that some family members on the ship believe several people who were pushing in an attempt to get out of an elevator may have resulted in the girl being shoved off a railing. 

He also said the family will be taking legal action.           

Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll told WPLG the distance of her fall remains unclear but could have been 25 to 50 feet.  

The incident occurred at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami around 8am (pictured: Captain Ignatius Carroll)

The incident occurred at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami around 8am (pictured: Captain Ignatius Carroll)

Medical emergency units responded to the incident and provided first aid to the young victim before rushing her off to nearby the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, ABC News reported. 

Doctors later announced that the eight-year-old had died after succumbing to her injuries. 

What led to the girl falling from the second-story atrium aboard the cruise ship while docked at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami is still unknown.

Carnival Cruise Lines spokesperson Jennifer de la Cruz said in a statement that the ship’s command notified police immediately following the incident and transferred the victim to the vessel’s medical center.

‘Our most heartfelt care and concern is with the family at this very difficult time’, Cruz added in the statement.

What led to the girl falling from the second-story atrium aboard the cruise and at what distance still remains unknown

What led to the girl falling from the second-story atrium aboard the cruise and at what distance still remains unknown

Police have opened an investigation into the event while the ship has resumed normal operations.

Glory, the Carnival Cruise Ship, was built in 2003 and has a maximum capacity of 3,700 people, according to the company’s website. 

The ship takes passengers on a seven day excursion through the Caribbean from Miami. 

It was scheduled to depart from Florida at 4pm Saturday afternoon and travel to the Bahamas.   

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk