An American family accuses the cruise company of being responsible for the death of a toddler



[ad_1]

Chloe Wiegand

Copyright of the image
Attorney Michael Winkleman

Legend

Chloe Wiegand, of Indiana, passed away Sunday

The family of a young child who died after the fall of 11 floors of an open window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship blamed the company for its accident.

Chloe Wiegand, 1, fell after her grandfather put her on the ramp of a children's playground, believing that there was glass there, says the family.

Royal Caribbean said that she was "deeply saddened" but would not make any other comments about the family's privacy.

The family lawyer said that there should have been a warning sign on the window.

Chloe died of the fall on Sunday while the ship was moored in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Attorney Michael Winkleman, of Miami-based Lipcon law firm Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, told the BBC in a statement that Chloe's grandfather had not let her falling, but that she had fallen off a shutter that should have been closed safely.

Chloe and her grandfather were playing in a children's water area on the boat, Winkleman said.

"Chloe wanted to hit the window," as she did during her brother's hockey games when she fell out the window.

He said "his grandfather thought there was glass like everywhere else, but there was none and she left in an instant".

"The family needs answers to know why there would be an open window in a wall full of fixed windows in a children's play area?" Why would you have the danger without warning, sign or notification? "

Copyright of the image
Attorney Michael Winkleman

Legend

Chloe view leaning against a window during a hockey game

Mr. Winkleman told the US media that he felt that the "cruise line" was strongly blamed ", saying that it was a case of negligence.

The Wiegand family remained in Puerto Rico while Chloe's grandfather, Salvatore Anello, is being investigated.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Winkleman said there were many measures to prevent children from falling off windows, like screens, and wondered why there was a open window in an area designed for children to play.

Copyright of the image
Attorney Michael Winkleman

Legend

An image showing the wall of the windows where Chloe fell

Winkleman told reporters that the family felt "terrible" and that Mr. Anello was "hysterically crying" when they spoke.

In her statement to the US media, Royal Caribbean said the company had set up a "care team to help the family with the resources it needed". The company cooperates with the local authorities as part of the investigation.

Copyright of the image
Getty Images

Legend

A Royal Caribbean Ship moored in Puerto Rico in 2017

Chloe's parents are Kimberly and Alan Wiegand. Mr. Wiegand is a police officer from South Bend, Indiana.

Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend and presidential candidate of 2020, tweeted his condolences on Tuesday.

The Puerto Rican police had previously told The Associated Press that Chloe had escaped from her grandfather's arms while she was being held by the window, but this report was disputed by the family and police. 39; Indiana.

[ad_2]

Source link