2 Carnival cruise passengers die in separate drowning incidents at Bahamas resort

Two U.S. vacationers drowned final week in separate incidents at Carnival Cruise Line’s new Bahamas resort, authorities mentioned. Both have been passengers on Carnival cruise ships that had sailed to the Caribbean, the corporate confirmed to CBS News on Sunday.

They died Friday whereas swimming at Celebration Key, a non-public resort on Grand Bahama Island that solely Carnival cruise passengers can use, in accordance with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Carnival. Police mentioned in a news release that officers on obligation responded to the primary drowning earlier than midday native time, and the second shortly after 2:30 p.m., in accordance with the discharge. The circumstances round every dying are below investigation.

In the primary incident, officers have been alerted to a 79-year-old man who was unresponsive on board a business ship on the resort. Police mentioned an preliminary report advised the person misplaced consciousness whereas snorkeling at a seaside, and a lifeguard pulled him from the water to manage CPR. The man, reported to be an American nationwide, was finally pronounced lifeless by a physician, in accordance with police.

Officers later discovered a 74-year-old girl unresponsive on board a separate business ship. The preliminary police report in that incident advised that the girl, additionally reported to be American, misplaced consciousness whereas swimming in a pool. Similar to the primary case, police mentioned a lifeguard pulled her from the water and tried CPR earlier than she was additionally pronounced lifeless. 

Neither police nor Carnival recognized the passengers by identify. A Carnival spokesperson advised CBS News in an announcement that the passengers had sailed to Grand Bahama on the corporate’s Mardi Gras and Carnival Elation cruise liners, and each have been touring with their households.

“Our lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate emergency incidents at Celebration Key on Friday — one in the lagoon and one at the beach. Sadly, both guests have passed away,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families and our Care Team is providing assistance.”

Bahamas police mentioned autopsies can be carried out to assist decide every vacationer’s actual reason for dying, as investigations into the incidents stay ongoing.

Carnival opened Celebration Key — a $600 million resort compound on Grand Bahama Island that options quite a few eating places, swimming pools, dwell music venues, a retail hub and amusement park-style actions — in July. The resort is located beside a pier the place two of the cruise line’s largest ships can dock on the identical time, permitting passengers unique entry to the realm, in accordance with the corporate.