OAN Staff Avril Elfie
11:54am – Wednesday, December 18, 2024
A “heavily intoxicated” passenger on a Royal Caribbean ship accused of attacking crew members and threatening other travelers died Friday after being restrained on board.
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The family of deceased passenger Michael Virgil, 35, claims that Royal Caribbean security guards injected him with what appeared to be a powerful sedative, which ultimately led to his death. They claim it was due to negligence.
According to fox 11Virgil reportedly threatened to kill other passengers and assaulted two crew members less than an hour after the cruise ship left San Pedro.
Virgil also allegedly kicked one Royal Caribbean staff member in the face and punched another.
“The drunk gentleman said he was going to kill us,” fellow traveler Kristifer Mikhail told police. “he [then] It started chasing us down the hallway. ”
Additionally, Mikhail said another crew member who ended up running into a towel closet and barricading himself inside was being chased by a drunk man.
A video of the altercation taken by Mikhail shows Virgil then trying to kick the door open several times. He repeatedly kicked the door with his steel-toed boots while shouting obscenities, then took off his shirt in the ship's hallway, according to the video.
He then reportedly went on a racially motivated rant. fox 11.
“I was a little scared,” Mikhail said. “I'm stuck in this hallway. The guy he hit flew a few feet back, so he could have flipped me off and thrown me like 30 feet.”
Several members of Royal Caribbean's security team were eventually able to restrain the exhausted Virgil using zip ties, handcuffs, and “bear or pepper” spray.
Virgil died shortly afterwards, within an hour. His fiancee told reporters he was injected with a sedative. His family also said fox 11 The father was on a cruise with his 7-year-old autistic son and his fiancee, so it was unusual for him to have a drunken outburst. Her name has not been identified.
“He didn't deserve to die over that,” Virgil's relatives told the station.
The FBI is currently investigating the incident and an autopsy is currently underway to determine the cause of death.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement: fox 11 They are currently working with investigators on this case.
Royal Caribbean told FOX 11 in a statement, “We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests,” adding, “We are providing support to the family and working with authorities on the investigation.” said.
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