Girl dies after falling in cruise ship at PortMiami

Doctors pronounce girl dead after 2-story fall on Carnival cruise

MIAMI – A girl died Saturday after falling from a deck in a Carnival Cruise Line ship's interior atrium to the lower deck at PortMiami, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Miami Department of Fire-Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said the 8-year-old girl fell about two stories inside the Carnival Cruise Line's Glory ship. The ship had just arrived and everyone was disembarking after a week-long trip when the girl fell about 8:15 a.m. 

Bob Dorr, a passenger and retired former emergency medical tech, said he was the first person to start CPR on the girl, while a police officer held her neck. Carroll said paramedics took her to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in extremely critical condition. 

A few hours later, Miami-Dade police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta reported the girl was dead. He also said in a statement investigators were working closely with Carnival Cruise Lines personnel "to determine the details surrounding this incident."

The ship had been turned over to the company by Saturday afternoon. Carnival Cruise Lines' Jennifer de la Cruz, the vice president of corporate communications, released a statement with Zabaleta's help. 

"Our most heartfelt care and concern is with the family at this very difficult time," De la Cruz wrote. 


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The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.