Really? I wouldn’t want to be in a floating tank without any windows that open. That just sounds horrible.
I’ve never been on a cruise ship. From what I saw, there was a wall of windows. I’m trying to figure out why windows were open at all. Aren’t cruise ships air conditioned?
Don’t get me wrong: if Puerto Rican authorities charged him with negligent homicide, I assume there was evidence he was, in fact, negligent. I’m just trying to find out why windows would be open.
I’ve been on plenty of cruise ships, and rooms that are on the internal part of the ship (no windows) have air conditioning. The areas on the external side of the ship are either completely open, with just railing, or they are a wall of windows, with some of them open. Why? Because people on cruise ships like the fresh sea breeze.
Apparently there is a videotape that the Puerto Rican officials have that shows the entire incident. They seem to have determined from that video, that grandpa was being negligent. It will be interesting when that tape is made public. I have major sympathy for grandpa and family, but his story doesn’t add up.
It’s actually an outdoor area - from the photos I’ve seen of the ship in question, it seems to be set up similarly to the ships I’ve been on. There’s a deck (say deck 11) with pools and hot tubs in the middle. That middle section is open to the sky. Around two sides of the pool area are lounge chairs, possibly additional seating for the buffet, maybe a smoking lounge. Above that is deck 12, which might have more lounge chairs, maybe a jogging track and possibly additional activities. Deck 12 does not extend over the pool area, but does form sort of a ceiling over part of deck 11. And depending on the temperature , it can get very warm under there.
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My first link is a photo of the area where this happened - it’s very clear in that photo which windows are open and the incident is supposed to have happened during daylight. There might not be any reflection - but the tint is very obvious. You couldn’t miss it if you were standing right in front of it and you would surely feel the breeze, even if you had some sort of strange colorblindness that prevented you from seeing the tint. And this is why I don’t believe his story. I don’t think he meant to hurt her, but I do believe he either thought it would be safe to hold her in front of the open window or that he didn’t consider the safety at all. Like those people who let a 2 yr old sit in their lap and steer the car.
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The video has been made public - https://cbs4indy.com/2020/01/17/royal-caribbean-says-grandfather-who-dropped-toddler-to-death-from-cruise-ship-knew-window-was-open/
sure looks like he knew the window was open
Like I always said, Michael Jacksoning.
I stand corrected–look at the fourth frame down on this link–he was holding her up as high as he could reach.He wasn’t merely Michael Jacksoning, he was Lion Kinging.
Wow I think the negligent homicide charges are appropriate. At first, I didn’t want to see him charged, but it’s hard to have sympathy for someone who refuses to accept responsibility for his actions.
Yeah, although the family say the video is “misleading” it’s hard to see how.
That stuff about banging on the (non existent) window makes me think that perhaps it was the poor child who didn’t realise that there was no glass and overbalanced attempting to bang on it as she was used to. I don’t think that’s an excuse so much as an explanation.
Here’s the direct link to the video. I’ll spoiler it just in case, but you don’t see anything graphic.
My initial reaction is to hell with this lying sack of shit and what the hell is wrong this guy’s family for sticking up for him. Screw him.
This view gives a good indication of what was actually going on in the video.
Edit: There’s no video or gore or anything in the link, it’s just a generic tourist picture of the type of window in question. And, er, a look at the height of the drop. =(
It is “misleading” because now they have to admit they were lying, they aren’t going to get those lawsuit millions and granddad is going to end up in jail.
Step-grandad. One of the news articles mentioned that in passing.
Shit, I got sick watching that. I thought the charges against the grandfather were overreaching until I saw how far out he extended his arms.
Although I never bought any of the bullshit arguments forwarded by the family (having been on similar Royal ships and seeing how dark the windows are tinted) I chalked it up to a squirming child and clumsy older adult but this person actively put the child in danger.
I feel extremely sad for the family and expect their lawsuit is a combination of an agressive attorney and grasping at any possible straw to place blame elsewhere. The grandfather deserves a child endangerment charge at the very least.
The first time I watched the video, it was on my phone and it was hard to see exactly what transpired. But I just watched it on my desktop and it’s clear as day. Grandpa leaned over and stuck his head/upper body way out the window (so he clearly knew it was open). Then he reached down and lifted up the toddler over the guard rail and put her entire body through the window, then somehow lost his grip on her after about 30 seconds.
Unless he was trying to kill this child, which I don’t believe, then his actions make no sense at all…unless he had been drinking and lost all judgment. Does anyone know if he had a breathalyzer or blood test after this incident?
The vid is weird, in that he appears to lean SO FAR forward over the railing, before picking the kid up. And was at the window for approx 20 seconds (from :30-:50 on clip) The still photo makes clear that the window is some distance - what? maybe 18"? - beyond the railing. I’d love to hear his interpretation of what he was doing that he didn’t realize there was no window.
Then, he was holding the kid "to bang on the window: for at least 30 secs (starting around :55) before there is a sign of commotion around 1:35. How long was the kid banging on a non-existent window before he realized something was up?
Looks like there should be no shortage of witnesses.
What a despicable group of people. No so much in that he fucked up and killed the kid, but that they are trying to PROFIT off it?!
Bad Grandpa, he was not to be trusted in the least! Of course he lost his grip that child was probably squirming in fear. This was an evil act imo, no body in their right damn mind does shit like that - MY instinct is that is not the first time he took a calculated risk with little Chloe. WHy was he the child minder, always volunteered to keep her busy so the adults get a break, yeah right…
Sam is a putz, and it was jsut a matter of time before he screwed up.
He refused a breathalyzer/blood test. I would imagine, however, that it would be a small thing to review the camera footage and receipts to see if he’d been drinking beforehand.
Inebriation or “I’m still just as strong as I used to be; I can totally hold this squirming child out the window at arm’s length as long as I want to” are easier to believe than the various conspiracy theories that are floating around out there (including that step-granddad and the parents are cultists).