A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship suffered injuries after a waterslide malfunctioned as he was using it, prompting the cruise line to respond to this alarming event.
The incident took place on the Icon of the Seas while the ship was sailing between Miami and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, on Thursday, August 7.
The man was descending the ‘frightening bolt’ slide when a portion of it cracked, creating a sharp edge that reportedly caused cuts to his back and legs.
Videos posted on social media show water spilling from the cracked section of the slide, and another clip captures the chaotic scene following the accident with voices exclaiming “oh my God” throughout the ship.
There were also calls from nearby individuals warning others to avoid the slide, with shouts of “Stop the slide!”
In another video, a passenger on the Icon of the Seas indicated that the slide was located on the 16th deck of the vessel. The footage clearly revealed a sizeable hole in the slide.
In response to the incident on the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean issued a statement.
“The slide remained closed for the rest of the voyage while engineers assessed the damage,” it said.
The company is investigating the cause of the failure, considering possibilities such as a manufacturing defect, installation issue, or an unexpected impact, but has not specified when the slide might reopen.
“Other pools and water attractions on board remained open, but passengers noted an increase in visible safety checks across the ship in the days following the incident.”
Additionally, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told UNILAD: “The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority.”
“To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”
In an earlier statement, the cruise line confirmed that the injured person was a man and stated that their team “provided medical care” after “acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide.”
“The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.”