Less than a month after its first cruise, two Americans tragically drowned at Carnival’s new private island in the Bahamas. The incidents involved a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, occurring separately on a Friday at this newly opened tourist spot.
Emergency responders were alerted when the man, who had been snorkeling, showed no signs of life on the beach. A lifeguard managed to pull him from the water and administered CPR, but unfortunately, he did not make it. Similarly, the woman was reportedly unresponsive while swimming in the pool and, despite being rescued and receiving CPR, she also could not be saved.
An autopsy is currently underway as part of the investigation into these occurrences. A spokesperson for Carnival confirmed the deaths, noting that lifeguards and medical teams responded to the separate water emergencies, one in the lagoon and the other on the beach.
“One guest was sailing with his family on Mardi Gras, while the other was with his family on another Carnival cruise,” the spokesperson said, extending thoughts and prayers to the affected families.
Celebration Key, where these incidents took place, welcomed its first guests on July 19. It boasts impressive features like a $600 million sand castle, racing waterslides, a shopping area, basketball courts, and an adult-only retreat.
Plans for Celebration Key suggest it could draw over 2 million visitors annually to Grand Bahama initially, with projections of 4 million by 2028, significantly enhancing the local economy and creating numerous long-term jobs.
