The Anthem of the Seas cruise ship made headlines again after a boy nearly drowned in a pool on board. The massive boat headed back to New Jersey hours after it departed because of the medical emergency.
What to Know
- The boy had an "accident" in one of the cruise ship's pools, the company said
- He was in the water for eight to 10 minutes before he was found
- The child was listed in critical condition at a hospital Friday
A Caribbean-bound cruise ship that departed New Jersey on Thursday returned to shore after a boy nearly drowned in one of the boat’s pools, officials said.
The 8-year-old boy from Maryland had "an accident" in one of the ship’s pools, Royal Caribbean Cruises tweeted at about 10 p.m.
Law enforcement officials said the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship departed from Bayonne at 4:30 p.m. and was returning at 9:30 p.m. because of the medical emergency.
Medical team from @nypd has come out to meet the ship pic.twitter.com/YkoZ1KldlY
— Mike Ritchie (@sdmike) July 1, 2016
The Coast Guard retrieved the child from the ship by Medivac helicopter and he was taken to Staten Island University Hospital. His family was expected to meet him there. The ship was docked in Bayonne early Friday morning.
The boy was in critical condition Friday, The Associated Press reported, citing the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard said the boy had been in the water for eight to 10 minutes before cruise officials found him. Police described the boy as the victim of a drowning or near-drowning.
Royal Caribbean said on Twitter the boy was being treated at the hospital and the cruise line’s care team was providing support to his family.
This isn’t the first time Anthem of the Seas made headlines this year: It sailed into a storm in the Atlantic Ocean in February, tossing passengers and furniture around the vessel. Passengers described it as "a cruise from hell."
