A man who fell from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was videoed by ship’s cameras talking about committing suicide, a Sheriff’s report has revealed.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office in Port Everglades found that Bernadro Garcia Teixeira, 31, jumped from the cruise ship on November 6 around 27 kilometres from Turks and Caicos.
The case has sparked some debate on social media about the way gay people are treatred on cruise ships, with passengers expressing both positive and negative stories.
The Sheriff’s Office says that Mr Teixeira and his partner, Erik Elbaz were on the ship when the ship’s security went to their cabin after reports of a domestic disturbance from the couple’s room.
Upon arriving, security personnel found evidence of a fight between the two men.
The report also says, “Homicide detectives reviewed video evidence of the couple’s interactions with the ship’s security in which the victim can be heard declaring that he was planning to jump overboard. In the recording, Garcia Teixeira can be seen running towards the balcony alone.
“The video also shows Elbaz running after Garcia Teixeira, followed by the ship’s security staff.The victim jumped down from his seventh floor balcony and struck the metal support for a lifeboat on the fifth floor. Garcia Teixeira clung to the ship as staff members tried to rescue him. He fell into the water moments later.”
Speaking to CBS Miami earlier this week, Mr Teixeira’s lawyer, Mike Winkleman accused Royal Caribbean staff of making anti-gay remarks aimed toward the couple.
