Hannah Smith was marking her college graduation when a Carnival Cruise excursion in the Bahamas allegedly became a devastating accident that led to the amputation of both her legs, and she is now pursuing legal action.
Smith, who is from Memphis and graduated from Overton High School, was on a celebratory trip with a longtime friend when the incident occurred during an island outing last year.
In a lawsuit naming Carnival Cruise Line and the excursion operators, Smith claims she was pulled underneath the rear of a catamaran ferry and struck multiple times by its propeller. The filing alleges she lost about 60% of her blood and sustained catastrophic injuries that ultimately required both legs to be amputated.
Her legal team alleges excursion staff enticed, pressured, and misled Smith and others into accepting “complimentary” alcohol and marijuana before they boarded the ferry back to Nassau, a central allegation in the negligence case.
The suit also contends the catamaran was not properly docked or secured, and that crew members lacked appropriate training.
Smith has said she got into the water at a crew member’s suggestion while the boat was docked because she needed to relieve herself.
Her friend Brooklyn Pitre, who was there at the time, recounted what happened to local Memphis outlet WREG.
Pitre said she heard Smith enter the water, then saw her vanish below the surface for roughly three seconds before she came back up.
“She was like, get me. And me and another woman had met on the cruise ship during the excursion with us.
“We pulled her out, and then there was like a lot of blood in the water,” Pitre said.
Smith underwent two surgeries in the Bahamas and was later transported back to the US for additional medical treatment.
A GoFundMe created to help with her recovery has collected close to $80,000.
According to her attorneys, Smith has endured ongoing physical pain and psychological trauma, including mental anguish, diminished enjoyment of life, disability, disfigurement, and PTSD. They are requesting a jury trial.
“Our client, Hannah Smith, was a bright, accomplished young woman celebrating a tremendous academic milestone when she suffered these horrific injuries,” said Keith S. Brais in a statement, the founding partner of Brais Law Firm and a board-certified admiralty and maritime law specialist.
“We are fully committed to pursuing justice on her behalf and holding accountable those responsible for the sequence of unsafe decisions that resulted in this life-altering tragedy.”
Brais Law Firm have been asked for additional comment.
Carnival Cruise Line is seeking to have the lawsuit thrown out, arguing it does not own the tour companies connected to the excursion.