Kevin Klingele
Cruise Ship Passenger Mysterious Overboard Death
July 3, 2007
Kevin Klingele
This leaves this case still in the mystery category. The cruise industry and their supporters have said with a loud voice, thousands of times, that a passenger can not just 'fall overboard" or be "blown overboard". If we take that at face value in this case, then once Klingele had a heart attack, how did he get overboard ? This case will remain open until this question is answered. A memorial service will be held next week for the grieving family and friends.
UPDATE: JULY 19, 2007 10:35PM CST
A Cruise Bruise visitor contributes to the cases details:
"I was a passenger on that cruise as well. Your initial report states that Mr. Klingele was missing on July 3 while in Puerto Vallarta. The ship was actually at sea on July 3 and did not reach Puerto Vallarta until about 7:00am (approximately) on July 4.
The ship set sail about 10:00pm and was escorted out of the harbor by several military vessels, much like our Coast Guard. The escort was along both sides of the ship and behind it. There were fireworks across the bay, and a lot of light from the city. As we left the bay and headed out to sea my family, along with a lot of other passengers stood along the rails watching. There was a July 4 celebration going on every deck of the ship, and people everywhere until late into the night, and well past Puerto Vallarta. It's difficult to believe that he could have fallen, or been pushed overboard during that time without anyone seeing it.
The next day, while docked in Mazatlan, there was a search of the ship, and a steward searched my cabin, and all the cabins along the corridor I was on. I was shown a picture and asked if I had seen this person anywhere on the ship. I remember constant pages coming over the loudspeaker, and through the television sound in the cabin.
My sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Klingele. I also live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and feel a sense of loss for them. I will continue to hope for a resolution to this mystery and closure for everyone." L Seitz
UPDATE: JULY 20, 2007 7:45PM CST
As L Seitz says, there was no sea search done by the ship. This passenger was missing for 5 days before the body was found. While the USCG was notified, we find no record of a USCG search being performed. In addition, because there was no public press release on this incident, the public including the boating public had no idea there was a man in the water. Given, there was a man missing, presumed overboard, it should have been automatic to post the press release publicly. The fact that it was not posted immediately, losing potential assistance in the search for Mr. Klingele, leads to further speculation. In response to this story, we have received a letter from Carnival Cruise Lines defending their actions. It follows below, as received, unedited.
"We would like to take the opportunity to respond to the recent postings
regarding the guest who was reported missing aboard the Carnival Pride July 5.
Any time a situation occurs that involves personal circumstances regarding aspecific individual such as a man overboard, medical emergency, etc., it is not normal practice for an organization to issue a broad-based public announcement.
In such instances, in addition to ensuring that all appropriate authorities are promptly notified, Carnival prepares a media statement that is provided to any media outlet that inquires about a particular situation. Additionally, it is also our practice not to disclose specific names in such statements in the interest of guest and family privacy.
Regarding the guest who was reported missing on the Carnival Pride July 5, upon learning of the situation, Carnival?s public relations department prepared a media statement which was readily available that same day. It has been available for approximately two weeks now. We have received inquiries from various media outlets since then ? the first of which was a California television station that contacted our offices on Saturday, July 7 and was provided with the media statement at that time, as have other media outlets that have inquired.
Also, Carnival's CareTeam has offered it support and assistance to the immediate family and has been in on-going communication with them.
The current statement is below."
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STATEMENT REGARDING MISSING CARNIVAL PRIDE PASSENGER
A 56-year-old male passenger, part of a large group of passengers sailing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines? cruise ship Carnival Pride, was reported missing during a seven-day cruise to Mexico.
On Thursday, July 5, shortly after the ship departed Mazatlan, Mexico, one of the missing guest?s traveling companions notified shipboard personnel that he had not seen the individual since Wednesday, July 4, at approximately 1 a.m.
Shipboard personnel conducted an extensive vessel-wide search and made multiple announcements over the public address system but were unable to locate the missing individual. All appropriate agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI, were notified.
Approximately one week later, the individual?s body was located off the coast ofMexico by the Mexican Navy.
Carnival Pride was sailing on a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise that departed Long Beach, Calif., on Sunday, July 1.
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This is the second case in as many weeks, that family has come to Cruise Bruise to find out what happened to a relative. That other case is here.
Please see another recent story we posted. This case, a senior citizen was attacked in the onboard restroom, beaten bloody with his own cane, and robbed of $1500 in casino winnings.
Being alone on a cruise ship can be a VERY dangerous place for elder passengers, as well as single passengers. We have another case where a single passenger went missing, and has never been seen again HERE.
Kevin Klingele Case Details: 1 2
