Queen Mary Accident: Police Say She Was Drinking
The Long Beach woman who fell off the Queen Mary ocean liner had been drinking before the accident Monday night, say police investigators.
Long Beach police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt commented on the deadly fall, saying the woman was “rather intoxicated” at the time of her misfortune in a statement.
The 26-year-old most likely died of hypothermia after her 75-foot plunge from the Queen Mary’s gangway into Long Beach Harbor’s ice cold waters. Her name has not been released pending notification of the family concerning her death.
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Although police are treating the unfortunate as an official accident, there are several witnesses who say the woman’s death could have influenced by other factors.
The woman originally visited the tourist attraction with her boyfriend, a currently unidentified 40-year-old man. Directly before falling, some witnesses allege that the two were arguing heatedly. Police have not verified the witnesses’ statements.
After the fall, however, the man ran down a few levels and jumped in after his girlfriend searching the icy waters for her. Two police officers followed. They tried valiantly to retrieve the unconscious woman, and were all treated at the scene for hypothermia. The woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but pronounced dead soon afterwards.
Another thing witnesses assert was that the woman had threatened to throw herself overboard during the lovers’ quarrel. Ruling the incident a suicide would certainly change the scope of the investigation, but police, including spokeswoman Pratt, have not directly stated that the differing accounts will be pursued.
The final cause of death will be determined by coroners, and could shed more light as to what actually happened that fateful night.
Queen Mary General Manager, Greg Keebler, said that staff were fully cooperating with authorities, according to a statement.
Keebler and the rest of the Queen Mary staff were unavailable for comments, although they did express regret at the "tragic event."
