A passenger aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship was swept overboard by strong winds last Friday as the ship was departing from the pier in Catania, Sicily. The passenger was in the process of disembarking when the incident occurred, according to a representative from the cruise line.
Crew members on duty responded swiftly, pulling the passenger from the water. The ship’s medical team assessed the individual and determined that they had only sustained minor injuries. The passenger was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment, as confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line in a public statement.
At the time of the incident, wind gusts in the area were reported to be as high as 45 miles per hour, according to AccuWeather. Following the passenger’s fall, the ship suspended all disembarking procedures and waited for the weather conditions to improve before resuming docking operations, the spokesperson added.
Incidents involving cruise lines are not uncommon, particularly during the summer season when families are eager to embark on adventures as soon as schools close for the holidays. Norwegian Cruise Line has had its share of mishaps in the past.
In April of the previous year, a Norwegian Cruise Line-sponsored tour left an 80-year-old passenger behind in Africa after she suffered a stroke during an excursion. In May, another elderly couple was left stranded in Spain when the ship departed without them. In July, a family of nine was inadvertently left behind in Alaska after a miscount during a check to ensure all passengers had returned before the ship set sail.