A passenger aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel was swept overboard by powerful winds as the ship departed from the pier. The incident occurred last Friday when the Norwegian Epic was docked in Catania, Sicily. The passenger was in the process of disembarking when the unfortunate event took place, according to a spokesperson for the cruise line.
Crew members on duty were quick to respond, immediately assisting the passenger out of the water. The ship’s medical team evaluated the individual, determining that they had only sustained minor injuries. The passenger was then transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment, as stated 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 halted 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.