Cruise Ship Passenger 'Critically' Injured After 16-Foot Fall On Deck, Airlifted To Hospital [Watch]

A Carnival cruise ship passenger was critically injured Tuesday after a 16-foot fall and was airlifted to New Orleans for expert treatment.

According to reports, the 23-year-old man suffered “multiple significant injuries” as he fell from the cruise ship’s balcony.

The Carnival Valor was sailing 65 nautical miles from Venice off the coast of Louisiana when the mishap occurred, per Coast Guard.

It remains a mystery how the man fell. His identity has been kept confidential by the authorities.

A Coast Guard news release said the injured person has been airlifted along with the ship’s doctor, to University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he is said to be critical.

According to cruise news, watchstanders in Coast Guard New Orleans got a call at 1:14 a.m. for the medevac of a 23-year-old man. They deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter with aircrew from the Coast Guard Air Station in New Orleans.

The aircrew arrived on the scene at 5:45 a.m and transported the injured man and a doctor to New Orleans University Medical Hospital.

Carnival cruise also updated that the man was first evaluated by the ship’s medical team, who found that he needed broader evaluation and medical support.

“We can confirm that the guest did not fall in the water but rather was injured on deck,” per the spokesperson.

The ship was on a 5-day trip Caribbean expedition and had more than 4,000 passengers under various cruise deals.

Carnival Valor departed from New Orleans on Monday. It has now reached Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday morning.

Carnival restarts Bahamas cruise

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line will resume the Bahamas cruise with calls to Grand Bahama Island starting Friday. Baltimore-based Carnival Pride will be the first ship to arrive at the Freeport.

Carnival Elation will reach the Freeport on Sunday, October 13, while Carnival Freedom’s will visit Tuesday, October 15.

This will be Carnival's first return to Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas in August.

“Carnival Cruise Line is proud to be such a big year-round supporter for cruise tourism to Freeport and excited to provide guests the opportunity to visit this popular destination,” said Terry Thornton, vice president of Carnival's nautical and port operations.

Carnival Cruise has also announced building a new terminal on Grand Bahama with an investment of $100 million and the construction expected to begin in mid-2020.