Authorities are investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy who fell from a balcony to a lower deck on a cruise ship returning to Texas this month.
The boy was aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas — on its way to Galveston after a seven-day Caribbean cruise — when the incident happened Sept. 7. Multiple news outlets reported that the boy fell from a balcony that overlooks the inner part of the ship and landed in the Central Park area of the vessel, which is lined with trees, restaurants and shops.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our guests,” the cruise company said in a statement to The Washington Post . “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.”
A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for an update Monday. The boy’s name has not been released.
Harmony of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world with 18 decks and more than 2,700 guest rooms, according to the Royal Caribbean website. The ship is divided into seven “neighborhoods,” including a boardwalk, promenade, pool and sports zone, youth area and the Central Park area.
In 2019, a 16-year-old boy fell to his death on the ship while trying to access his room from an adjacent balcony. Last year, a 16-year-old boy died on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas ship.
Railings on cruise ships must be at least 42 inches tall with thick metal or Plexiglas panels underneath to prevent people from slipping through, under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act that passed in 2010. The safety barriers are positioned at chest height for the average person.