A tragic incident unfolded aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship Monday morning, resulting in the death of a passenger who reportedly fell from her room’s balcony while the vessel was sailing near Catalina Island.
The unfortunate event took place on the Carnival Firenze as it cruised off the Southern California coast. According to the cruise line, the female passenger fell from her stateroom balcony and landed on a lower deck.
The woman was traveling with her family, who immediately informed the ship’s crew of the incident, Carnival reported.
“In line with protocol for such incidents, law enforcement officers boarded the ship when it docked at Catalina Island on Monday to gather information,” the company stated, noting that all relevant authorities had been contacted.
The family of the deceased has since disembarked from the ship and returned home, Carnival confirmed.
The family has since left the ship and returned home, according to Carnival.
“Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the guest’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones,” the company added.
The FBI confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is looking into the death.
“The FBI responded to the ship and is currently investigating the reported death,” the bureau’s Los Angeles field office said.
General views of the Carnival Radiance cruise ship at Avalon harbor on May 19, 2023, in Avalon, California, on Catalina Island. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
It remains unclear what caused the passenger to go over the balcony. Her identity has not been released.
The Costa Firenze cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp., left, and the Riviera cruise ship, operated by Golden Sun Cruises, docked at the port of Civitavecchia near Rome, Italy, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital that its Search and Rescue team from the Avalon Sheriff’s Station helped in recovering the passenger who died. The department directed further questions to the FBI.
The Carnival Splendor in Australia, near the Sydney Opera House. (Carnival Cruise Line)
It is the latest incident in a recent string of cruise tragedies.
Just last week, two separate emergencies turned deadly during a single voyage on the Carnival Splendor, with authorities indicating the incidents were unrelated.
In that case, a 67-year-old woman died while snorkeling off Australia’s Moreton Island during a shore excursion after she was found unresponsive in the water. Hours later, a separate passenger in his 70s reportedly climbed over the ship’s safety railing and went overboard, prompting an intensive search that was later suspended.
In a separate incident, two Carnival passengers also died in drowning cases at the company’s private Bahamas resort.
