Police are investigating the death of an 8-year-old girl who fell from the balcony of a cruise ship that was docked in the port of Miami, WPLG-TV reports.
The girl fell off the second-story balcony in the interior atrium of the Carnival Cruise ship Glory shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday during the unloading process, according to authorities.
The exact distance the girl fell is not yet clear, but it could have been between 25 and 50 feet, Miami Fire-Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said.
Passenger Bob Dorr, a retired emergency medical technician, told the television station that he was the first to provide CPR to the child as a police officer held her neck.
Bob Dorr says he was the first person to start CPR on the 8y/o girl. @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/HFkDGC0p1k
— Ian Margol Local 10 (@IanMargol) October 14, 2017
ABC News reports that paramedics later provided first aid to the girl before taking her to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she initially was in critical condition.
Several hours later, police announced she had died from her injuries. Her identity has not yet been publicly released.
It’s not clear what caused the girl to fall, but authorities have launched an investigation into her death.
In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said vessel staff notified police right away of the incident and brought the child to a medical center on the ship, which was docked at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami.
The 8-year-old girl fell two stories from a balcony. https://t.co/bGhpNmnLq6
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) October 15, 2017
“Our most heartfelt care and concern is with the family at this very difficult time,” Cruz said.
The $500 million ship was built in 2003 and can hold up to 3,700 people, according to Carnival Cruise’s website.
The vessel has resumed its normal operations and was scheduled to leave Miami at 4 p.m. Saturday.
It takes passengers on a seven-day trip from south Florida to the Caribbean.
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
