10-Year-Old Boy Drowns Aboard Cruise Ship in Asia

Newsweek.com reports that a 10-year-old-boy was found unresponsive in the pool of an Asian cruise ship on Monday, and was later pronounced dead. 

The victim was traveling with his mother a friend aboard the Genting Dream cruise ship on a three-day itinerary when he was found dead. The ship was docked at Star Cruise Jetty in Langkawi, Malaysia when his death was announced.

The Newsweek article quoted Langkawi district police chief Superintendent Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim as saying: “Initial investigation found the victim was believed to have drowned while bathing in the pool. A pool attendant and many other visitors were bathing in the pool but failed to rescue the victim. Police have statements of witnesses and pool attendant to facilitate investigation.”

A Spokesperson for the Genting company, which owns the Dream, told Newsweek: “Dream Cruises confirms a boy was found unresponsive in one of the swimming pools aboard Genting Dream on 18 November. The ship departed from Singapore on 17 November 2019 for a 3-night cruise.”

This tragic event echoes many similar downings and near-drownings aboard U.S. based cruise ships. After experiencing many such tragedies Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both changed longstanding policies and began to station lifeguards at onboard pools. Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s largest cruise company, continues to refuse to provide passengers with lifeguard service.