A 22-year-old cruise passenger sailing aboard Carnival Sunrise was critically injured after falling off a ferry during an excursion in Nassau.
Hannah Smith, a recent college graduate from Memphis, Tennessee, embarked on the cruise with a friend to celebrate the milestone.
She had graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Communications from Miles College in Alabama in early May and was looking forward to relaxing on a Bahamian voyage.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse en route back to the cruise ship after spending the day on Pearl Island when Smith went overboard and was sucked into the ferry's propellers.
“I heard the splash, and I instantly looked. And when she first went into the water, she just made the face like somebody fell, like I’m in the water,” Smith's friend, Brooklyn Pitre, told WREG, “But she didn’t look distraught, and then she disappeared for about three seconds. And I didn’t see her.”
Pitre continued, saying that Smith resurfaced and reached out her hand. Her friend and another woman, whom they had met on the ship, helped rescue Smith from the water, which is when the extent of the injuries became horrifyingly clear: Smith's legs were nearly severed, and she lost a large amount of blood.
She had two surgeries in the Bahamas and was airlifted back to the United States on May 15. However, she has a long road ahead, both physically and emotionally.
A family member, who has been posting updates to a GoFundMe page, revealed that Smith recently underwent her sixth procedure — which was one of the less extensive surgeries — since the accident. According to the GoFundMe, this procedure allowed the doctors to remove the dead or damaged tissue and determine a plan of action.
"She is progressing slowly but surely day by day. Her strength and ability to overcome every obstacle in her journey is beautiful," the family member wrote.
The GoFundMe has raised a little over $35,000 out of the family's $250,000 meant to help cover Smith's medical expenses.
The Royal Bahamian Police opened an investigation
According to the Daily Mail, police suggested that alcohol likely played a role in the incident. Though it's not uncommon for cruisers to indulge while on vacation, Smith's mother, Tracy, pushed back against the allegation.
"Hannah was not intoxicated. She fell from the boat. It's hurtful to say she jumped because she did not," she said.
"[Did] they have fun? Yes. Were they drunk? No. Did she jump? No. Are we completely aware of what happened? No."
Hannah’s father, Marvin Smith, also said that his daughter wasn't drunk, citing conversations with the doctors at the hospital in Nassau who claimed Smith was "coherent" and "not inebriated" when she arrived.
Despite the disagreement over Smith's condition, Royal Bahamian Police confirmed that her injuries were severe.
"The victim is alleged to have entered the water from a vessel she was a passenger on while it was attempting to dock. She sustained serious injuries to her lower body, caused by the vessel’s propeller,” they said in a statement provided to The Mirror.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
