The mother of the toddler who fell 11 floors from Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas said she plans to sue the cruise line in an interview, which was broadcasted on America’s NBC “Today” show.
Kimberley Wiegand said that there are “a million things” the cruise company could have done to prevent the death of her 18-month old daughter and said she will be seeking compensation from Royal Caribbean for “not having a safer situation on the 11thfloor of that cruise ship.”
“I never want another mother to have to experience this or to see what I had to see or to scream how I had to scream,” she told NBC.
The toddler fell to her death onto a concrete pier in San Juan earlier this month when according to the Puerto Rico police report, she slipped from her grandfather’s arms.
Salvatore Anello reportedly sat his granddaughter on the railing of an open window while the family were in the outdoor dining area on the ship. It is believed he was playing a game when she slipped from his arms and fell out of the window.
But Michael Winkleman, the family’s attorney has challenged the report and said Chloe fell from a window that was inexplicably left open in a children’s play area.
Company officials noted that Royal Caribbean is cooperating in the investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident and our hearts go out to the family. We have assisted the authorities in San Juan with their inquiries and they are the appropriate people to address further questions,” the cruise line said in a statement to NBC.
So sad but you cannot blame the cruise ship for the child death it appears to be a very tragic freak accident.
I agree it is the Grandfathers fault for placing a bub of only 18 months on a rail by an open window. He really should accept responsibility for the child slipping through an open window. I can’t imagine how he feels being the one who let his grand child fall to her death. Suing the shipping company seems to me to be an American answer. Won’t bring the child back or fix broken hearts.
Totally agree with the above comments … why oh why would the grandfather sit the child on any ledge on a ship ????? It’s a total tragedy but certainly not the ships fault ,,,,, how could you ever enjoy anything that blood money would be spent on ???
This just seems like a witch hunt by a grieving mother. Blame everyone else but the person who caused the unfortunate incident. As others have stated, acquire the compensation (which I firmly believe is not warranted), and it will impose an ongoing impost against those of us who do the right thing and follow directions.
It is such a senseless tragedy. I am sorry but the child was in the care of the Grandfather who was not thinking which happens as people age. He chose to put the little girl up on the railing. It is obvious when a window is open on a cruise ship as the windows never look clean and crystal clear due to the salty air and sea splash regardless of height of window.
I don’t think you can blame the cruise company for this deed
, I can only imagine what the Grandfather is going thru, why on earth would you want to sue and have money for the loss of your child, no money at all could compensate for that in my mind and I wouldn’t be able to spend one cent of it !
I think that the Grandfather is at fault here. Firstly there is no need to place a child on any railing on a ship because as can be seen children can indeed slip out of anyone’s hand accidentally and to place a child near an open window 11 levels high is just ludicrous. Secondly we need to stop these extremely greedy Lawyers from planting seeds in peoples mind that it is ALWAYS someone else at fault and the only way to teach them a lesson is to sue for massive amounts of money. If the ship left the window open so be it. Don’t put your child up there. Ships are not safe places if you act in a careless manner. Some law suits against cruise lines have seen massive amounts granted to people who should not have sued in the first place. Mum and dad it is the saddest event that could possibly happen to your gorgeous little one but do not blame the ship it will definitely not bring you any peace. Lawyers stop being so predatory in your quest for money.
It’s a sad fact that cruise ships do have areas that are unsafe for small children. Nearly all ships have designated areas where people can smoke. These areas often have windows that can be opened and are often left open when no one is around. Small children can easily climb on chairs and access these open windows. It is too late to save this poor child but hopefully all cruise companies will this this as an issue and try to do something to rectify it.
NOT THE CRUISE LINERS FAULT. HOW CAN ANYONE SIT SUCH A YOUNG CHILD ON A WINDOW LEDGE. GROSS NEGLIGENCE !
Why isn’t the grandfather taking any of the blame the child was his responsibility to look after not the cruise line he placed her on the ledge the child did not climb up the grandfather did it
It looks like instead of blaming himself they what to blame the cruise line and have compensation money so they can in joy lift without the child
If it was me I would not be able to live life anymore and would rather die BUT in his case money will cover all up
I may be completely wrong BUT why on earth would the shipping line be responsible for an alleged responsible adult disregarding all common sense and known restrictions on sitting on railings resulting in this poor Childs demise. While the poor mother is suffering from the loss of her child one can only hope that she withdraws her mercenary claim against the shipping line and accept the fact that it was a family members error in judgement that resulted in this terrible outcome. If this women was to be successful in her claim how could she live knowing that any compensation is nothing more then blood money.
People always want to blame someone else instead of taking responsibility for their actions. I have been on 30 or so cruises and people are warned not to sit on railings, etc. Nor have I ever seen gaps around the metal railings big enough for someone to get through, as described by someone in these posts.
It is a tragedy but if anyone is to blame it has to be the grandfather for placing the child on the window ledge and not holding her firmly. Even if there had been a deck outside the child could have been killed or hurt.
Suing the cruise line will not bring your child back nor will change the fact that you trusted your child to the wrong person. Rethink if you want to endure all this pain and memories over and over again to no closure. Let her Rest In Peace and allow yourself to find some peaceful place to honor your baby in peace.
If she gets a cent out of this the whole system is rigged, it’s a very sad scenario but to blame the cruise line for this is a disgrace, its the responsability in the passenger contract that unless your child is in the registered children area Adventure Ocean, it’s parents responsability, on from that I believe Children under 3 must be with a parent at all times, sad that this happened, but please dont blame the cruise line, your a mother after all, your children should be the most precious thing to you.,
On all ships the rails are not to building standard the.height is fine but it’s the round steel rails that a full grown person could get through
Kids run fast and it would only take a second for a small child to slip through the bars
Ships have had this style of rail for over a hundred years but that does not make it ok
This is a comment not to be aligned with the window grandfather child full
While a little child lost her life ,the parents should not blame the cruise line as I have been on 15 cruise (only one with Royal Caribbean) all the windows can not be open and why did the grandfather put the child on the railing ,children are the responsibility of who ever has the child at the time.
The grandfather should be charged for stupidity. How else could a child fall from an open window that is over its head? What about the decks with railings, these are more dangerous as children can climb over them. I dread if she wins because there will never be any open spaces on board, will all be glassed in as well as all balconies.
As sad as the tragedy was, the Grand father must accept responsibility for his grand childs death. People are all to keen to blame some one else for their mistakes, and greedy lawyers plant the seed to sue, I hope The cruise company fight any case as to just accept liability would see an endless stream of claims, for frivolous things for money.
While i sympathise with the family for their tragic loss it is hardly the fault of the cruise company that a family member was sitting the little one on an open window ledge.
It is time we all took responsibility for our own actions in whatever we do and stop blaming others when things go wrong. I have been on many cruises and have seen some acts of sheer stupidity that could easily have gone horribly wrong.
It is a tragedy the circumstances in which this small child died, however responsibility by the grandfather must be taken for his negligence, by placing the child in an open window and claim he didnt know it was open, which as anyone who has been on a cruise ship would know, is very obvious. Also the area is not a childrens play area, rather a family general area.
To blame RoyalCaribbean for this is a travesty and very wrong.
We all feel for the family but you cant “pass the buck” on what was the grandfathers negligible and your desire to make money out of a needless tragety.