The Royal Bahamas Police Force reports that a member of the Royal Caribbean crew allegedly stabbed a coworker and then jumped overboard on the Icon of the Seas ship last week, falling to his death. On July 24, just after 7:30 p.m., the incident occurred while the ship was sailing close to the Bahamas. Police say that a 35-year-old male crew member from South Africa stabbed a female crew member from South Africa who was 28 years old. Following the incident, the suspect reportedly fled the scene and jumped into the water from the massive ship, where he was retrieved unresponsive by rescue team members and pronounced dead by onboard medical staff, police said.
They stated, “The female victim sustained stab wounds to her upper body,” and that she was treated and is now stable. The crew members involved in the incident were not identified by Royal Caribbean. Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately the crew member passed away,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement to CBS News. We express our sympathy to the crew member’s loved ones and family. To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share.”
As the investigation continues, the male crew member’s exact cause of death will be determined by autopsy, according to police. Onboard the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, passengers posted online videos of crew members rushing to assist the man who jumped overboard. The sound of a voice saying “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” is thought to be code for “man overboard.” In another video shared on TikTok, passengers can be seen gathering on the sides of the ship, looking across the water. In another video that was shared on the social media platform, a man can be seen lying motionless on the rescue boat while members of the medical team attempt to sit him up. One woman claims that she can see the man who went overboard. At the time, the ship was on a seven-night cruise to CocoCay in the Bahamas. The incident comes nearly a month after a man jumped off a Disney cruise ship to save his daughter, who fell overboard while the ship was on its way back to South Florida.
According to Disney and passengers who recorded the rescue on video, crew members from the Disney Dream rescue team pulled the girl and her father into a small boat on June 29 as the cruise ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas on the final day of the voyage. A video shared on TikTok showed the man treading water with his daughter in his arms. He handed her over to the rescue team before getting in the boat.In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said, “We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes.”
“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols,” the company added.
Going overboard is highly unlikely, according to a 2020 report from the Cruise Lines International Association. From 2009 to 2019, 212 people were reported to have fallen overboard, of which 48 were successfully rescued. There has been a “significant decline” in the number of overboard incidents and fatalities from year to year.
Royal Caribbean crew member stabs coworker before jumping overboard: police
