A heartbreaking incident occurred on September 8, 2024, aboard the Harmony of the Seas, when a 12-year-old child tragically passed away after falling from deck 8 in the Central Park area of the cruise ship.
While details surrounding the incident remain unclear, the situation has sparked several speculations among passengers.
Harmony of the Seas, an Oasis-class cruise ship, is the fourth-largest passenger vessel in the world.
It was built by STX France at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire for Royal Caribbean International. Ordered in December 2012, it became the third Oasis-class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
What Really Happened?
On that day, the young victim had been on the balcony in the ship’s Central Park area. Without anyone noticing, the child fell head-first from the balcony to the ground below.
Despite the swift response of medical personnel on board, they were unable to save the child, whose condition had already deteriorated by the time they arrived.
The victim’s family, who were on the cruise to celebrate a birthday, returned home devastated by the tragic loss of their child.
Speculations Surrounding the Fall
The exact cause of the fall remains uncertain, leading to various speculations among passengers and those online.
Some believe it was impossible for a child to accidentally fall from the balcony without some external cause, while others think that the child’s actions contributed to the tragic event.
A few passengers claimed that the child had been climbing on two chairs near the balcony and may have been engaging in unsafe behavior.
Others speculated that the fall may have been intentional. Some reports even suggested that the victim was horse-playing with friends before the fall.
One passenger wrote,
“I was on board and have no idea how it happened. You can’t just fall over the railing anywhere. I heard there were two chairs pushed up against the glass on the balcony, so the child was either doing something unsafe or chose to jump.”
Via YouTube
Another furious commenter added,
“As a travel agent, you should be ashamed to post this. A child died. A family is devastated, all while they were supposed to return home from a joyful birthday celebration.”
Via YouTube
Response and Investigation
Following the incident, Harmony of the Seas remained closed until noon to allow an investigation into the safety protocols on board.
Everyone boarding was asked to delay their scheduled arrival time by one hour, with everyone boarding by 3:30. Passengers were initially scheduled to board at 11:30.
So sad! Such a tragedy for being such a great treat for the child to go on a family cruise. Praying for the family.