Eyewitnesses have come forward regarding a tragic incident on the world’s largest cruise ship, where a waterslide malfunction resulted in a passenger being injured.
On Thursday, August 7, while aboard Royal Caribbean’s massive cruise ship, ‘Icon of the Seas,’ passengers could only watch in helplessness as a fellow traveler was harmed by the ship’s ‘frightening bolt’ attraction. Efforts were made to alert operators during the terrifying moment.
The ship was sailing between Miami and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, when a section of the waterslide fractured, creating a sharp edge of acrylic glass.
The fracture expanded into a sizeable hole, causing water to gush out just as an unsuspecting passenger was passing through the hazardous area.
The injured man, whose identity has not been disclosed, suffered cuts on his back and legs during his descent on the slide from the ship’s 16th floor. However, Royal Caribbean officials confirmed that he did not fall through the hole and is currently in stable condition.
Amidst the chaos, cries of “Oh my god” and urgent calls to “Stop the slide!” resonated across the lower decks. Passengers could see water flooding out of the damaged slide segment, fearing the worst for the injured person.
Several passengers have shared their accounts of the incident, with some stating that it might deter them from going on cruises again.
One eyewitness told NBC6: “We saw the gaping hole. The water was coming out. It was kind of disturbing to see it because it was a crazy slide, and it was really scary.”
Another passenger recounted having used the slide just 20 minutes before the accident, while someone else remarked: “It’s a little frightening. It could’ve happened to us, and I’m glad it didn’t.”
“I will not be going on slides like that ever again,” said another passenger, Sophia. “Definitely not.”
Passengers also reported a lack of communication from the crew regarding the incident, which fueled rumors about the malfunctioning slide and the injured individual’s condition.
Royal Caribbean released a statement to the outlet, confirming: “The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.”
The company has since affirmed that the slide “remained closed for the rest of the voyage while engineers assessed the damage.”
The statement continued, “The company has not provided a timeline for reopening and is investigating whether the failure was due to a manufacturing defect, installation issue, or an unexpected impact.” Despite the incident, other pools and water attractions aboard the ship remained accessible, although passengers noticed increased safety inspections in the days following the event.
In a separate comment to UNILAD, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson emphasized, “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 addressed the situation, confirming the injury of a male passenger. They noted that their team “provided medical care” after “acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide.” The company reiterated, “The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.”