Credited from: CBSNEWS
A Royal Caribbean crew member allegedly stabbed a fellow employee on a cruise ship and subsequently died after jumping overboard on Thursday night near San Salvador Island, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The incident took place around 7:30 p.m., involving a 35-year-old South African man who attacked a 28-year-old South African woman multiple times before leaping from the vessel, police officials stated. Medical personnel later pronounced him dead after he was recovered from the water, while the woman is reported to be in stable condition with injuries to her upper body according to CBS News and Newsweek.
The incident occurred aboard the Icon of the Seas, which was on a scheduled voyage through the eastern Caribbean. Following the stabbing, Royal Caribbean confirmed that a search and rescue operation was initiated but, unfortunately, the crew member was declared deceased upon retrieval from the water. The cruise line extended their condolences to the deceased's family while describing the incident as a "personal dispute," yet did not provide further details regarding the involved parties according to India Times and Newsweek.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force is conducting an investigation into the incident, with an autopsy scheduled to determine the cause of death. Ensuring the safety of crew members and passengers on cruise ships has become a more pressing issue following this tragic event, exemplifying ongoing concerns regarding security protocols in such environments, as noted by CBS News and India Times.