Scene of the fall (courtesy Lyndsey Dyson)CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Passengers aboard the Carnival Fantasy can only guess what exactly happened after a 26 year-old South Carolina man fell to his death aboard the ship Friday night.
"There was speculation as to whether the guy jumped after losing while gambling or he just fell. Some people were saying he was traveling with his grandma," said cruise ship passenger Dennis Rash.
A 26-year-old man from South Carolina died aboard the Charleston-based Carnival Fantasy while it was docked in Nassau, Bahamas late on Friday night.
"Everybody who was watching said he was completely non-responsive." said fellow passenger Lyndsey Dyson.
In a press release issued on Saturday, Carnival Cruise Lines said the man fell from one of the upper levels of the ship's atrium to the lobby level. Carnival's CareTeam is providing the guest's family with support and assistance.
"A gentleman had gone over. I think it was the 3rd deck and hit the bottom," said passenger Kenneth Hamilton. "what we heard was they put him on a board and took him to the Bahamas and I think the family went off with him."
The victim's name still has not been released.
Bahamas police said in a statement Saturday that their investigation revealed the man apparently jumped from one floor to another.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and extend our heartfelt condolences to the guest's family and loved ones," Carnival officials said in the written statement on Saturday.
A scheduled visit to Freeport was canceled and the Carnival Fantasy remained in Nassau until approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday. The cruise ship returned to Charleston Monday morning from a five day cruise to the Bahamas.
* The Associated Press contributed to this report.
