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12-year-old boy dies after falling over balcony on cruise headed for Texas

The boy has not been identified

Katie Hawkinson
Wednesday 11 September 2024 19:19 BST
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A 12-year-old boy died after falling from a balcony on Royal Caribbean’s ‘Harmony of the Seas' cruise ship
A 12-year-old boy died after falling from a balcony on Royal Caribbean’s ‘Harmony of the Seas' cruise ship (AFP via Getty Images)

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A 12-year-old boy has died after falling off a balcony while on board a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The young boy fell to his death on September 7 while on board the Harmony of the Seas as it sailed toward Galveston, Texas at the end of a week-long trip. He fell off a balcony on Deck 8, known as the “Central Park” area of the ship where there are many restaurants and stores, PEOPLE reports.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our guests,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement. “Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.

“For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share,” the spokesperson added.

The boy has not been identified, and it is not yet clear what caused him to fall off the balcony.

The 12-year-old who died after falling off a balcony on the ‘Harmony of the Seas’ has not been identified
The 12-year-old who died after falling off a balcony on the ‘Harmony of the Seas’ has not been identified (AFP via Getty Images)

Just last month, a British man reportedly fell overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise near Croatia. The search was called off after nearly 40 hours.

“Since the man has been in the sea for over 40 hours, we are already losing hope,” Sanjin Dumanic, president of the Association of Croatian Sea Captains, said at the time.

“We would all like him to be found, but 40 hours is a very long time, and we are losing hope that this search will end successfully”.

Then, back in May, a passenger died after jumping overboard from Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ship after it set sail from Florida.

The man reportedly jumped from the Icon of the Seas after it left a Florida port. He was rescued from the water and brought back on board before succumbing to his injuries.

The cruise company also issued a statement declining to provide details on his identity.

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