- Waterslide cracked open mid-ride on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas on August 7
- An adult guest was injured and received medical care after the acrylic glass broke
- The injured guest's condition is reported as stable by Royal Caribbean officials
A terrifying incident unfolded on the Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship when a waterslide suddenly cracked open mid-ride, leaving one injured. The accident occurred on Thursday, during a seven-day trip around the eastern Caribbean, leaving a sizable hole in the tubular slide.
People quickly sprang into action, screaming "stop the slide" as water gushed out of the broken section.
A video of the incident showed commotion onboard after an acrylic glass panel broke while a man was using the slide.
“Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said in a statement. He added, "The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation."
While the injured man's identity has not been revealed, his condition is stable, reported ABC News.
The Icon of the Seas, hailed as the largest and one of the most sophisticated cruise ships in the world, has a waterpark with six slides. It was carrying thousands of vacationers at the time of the malfunction. The slide will now remain shut until safety inspections and repairs are finished.
The exact cause of the acrylic glass failure is yet to be known. The company has pledged to evaluate all safety procedures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
The Icon of the Seas set sail for the first time in January 2024. The ship can accommodate nearly 10,000 people at full capacity.
