CNN

A toddler died after falling from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico

Jul 9, 2019, 7:21 AM

cruise...

A toddler died after falling from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico.

(CNN) — An American toddler fell to her death on Sunday from the deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a spokesman for the local Port Authority said.

The 18-month-old girl was playing with her grandfather in a dining hall on deck 11 of the Freedom of the Seas, Port Authority spokesman José Carmona said. The dining area has large windows, and one pane was open.

The grandfather sat the girl in the window and lost his balance, and the girl fell to her death. “Sadly, she died on impact,” Carmona said.

The ship was scheduled to depart for a weeklong voyage at 8:30 p.m. Sunday; the accidental fall happened about 5 p.m., according to Carmona. The girl’s body was taken to a forensic unit in San Juan. Local police are still investigating the incident, which preliminarily has been determined to be an accident, Carmona said.

The family’s attorney, Michael Winkleman, disputes this characterization of the incident. “I do think that there is going to be blame and significant blame on the cruise line,” Winkleman told NBC News on Tuesday. He said that the toddler loved glass and windows, seeing through to the other side, and her grandfather had placed her on a ledge by a glass wall but had no idea one window within the wall was open.

“Why in the world would you leave a window open in an entire glass wall full of windows in a kids area?” Winkleman asked: “Why would you have that kind of danger without any warning, without any sign, without any notice?”

Winkleman said he will do everything he can to hold the cruise line “accountable for what appears to me to be negligence.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises said in a statement Monday that it does not plan to comment further on the incident out of respect for the family’s privacy: “We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the familyy. We’ve made our Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need.”

The toddler’s father is a police officer in South Bend, Indiana, according to the South Bend Police Department. The department tweeted “its sincerest condolences to Officer Alan Wiegand and his family during this difficult time following the tragic loss of their child while in Puerto Rico.” The department also asked the community to pray for and to respect the privacy of the entire family.

The girl had traveled to San Juan from the mainland with her parents, siblings and four grandparents.

The toddler’s grandfather, Sal Anello, has worked in the IT department for St. Joseph’s county for a little over a year, according to Mike Hamann, the county auditor.

“People love him here in the county. He’s a very selfless man. He’s got a servant’s heart as we say,” Hamann told CNN. “Just one of the most wonderful human beings that you could ever meet.” He also referred to Anello as a “model employee.”

Falls from cruise ships are not unheard-of. On Thursday, a Carnival Victory crew member was seen falling overboard about 30 miles northwest of Cuba.

The US Coast Guard searched for the 37-year-old man but failed to find him after more than 45 hours and so suspended the effort.

The Coast Guard does not estimate the total number of falls from ship decks each year, spokesman Jonathan Lally said. Still, “every cruise ship has a safety plan,” and “they are required to give a safety brief,” he said. The Coast Guard “strongly advises” passengers who board ships to follow all safety rules and plans.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

CNN

A video recorded by Facebook user Larry Jacquez shows the police response following the shooting in...

Jamiel Lynch, CNN     

At least 3 people killed and 2 officers wounded in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police say

Multiple people were shot and at least three killed in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, police said in a Facebook post.

11 months ago

Migrants seeking asylum in the US look through the border wall as volunteers offer assistance on th...

Nouran Salahieh

End of Title 42 policy brings fewer migrants than expected

Southern border communities report fewer migrants, but concerns remain about overcrowded processing and detention facilities.

11 months ago

EVERETT WALMART, EVERETT, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES - 2023/04/19: An empty cart is seen near an emp...

Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN

The real reasons stores such as Walmart and Starbucks are closing in big cities

Several forces are pushing Walmart and Starbucks out of some city centers: a glut of stores, people working from home, online shopping, exorbitant rents, crime and public safety concerns, and difficulty hiring workers.

11 months ago

Gay rights supporters attend the annual Pink Dot event in Singapore in June 2022. Photo credit: Ros...

Heather Chen

A law that cancels cancel culture? This country is considering it

   (CNN) — Cancel culture, the online trend of calling out people, celebrities, brands and organizations — rightly or wrongly — for perceived social indiscretions or offensive behaviors, has become a polarizing topic of debate. To some, it’s an important means of social justice and holding powerful figures to account. But to others, it’s often “misused and misdirected” and has become […]

11 months ago

Vatican Museum restorer Alice Baltera works on the bronze Hercules statue, in the Round Hall of the...

Francesco Sportelli, Associated Press

Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning

Vatican Museum restorers are working to remove centuries of grime from the largest known bronze statue of the ancient world: the gilded Hercules Mastai Righetti.

11 months ago

Linda Yaccarino, here in 2022, is leaving NBCUniversal amid reports that Elon Musk has selected her...

Chris Isidore

Elon Musk names NBCU ad chief Linda Yaccarino as Twitter CEO

 (CNN) — Elon Musk on Friday named longtime media executive Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter, months after he promised to step back from the role. “I am excited to welcome Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO of Twitter!” Musk wrote in a tweet on Friday. He said she “will focus primarily on business operations, […]

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

A toddler died after falling from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico