Icon of the Seas: Passenger injured after waterslide shatters on word's biggest cruise ship
A section of the Frightening Bolt waterslide on the world's biggest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, shattered as the man was shooting down the enclosed tube on Thursday.
It is believed he did not fall through the hole but was sliced open.
One passenger who witnessed the terrifying incident said the rider's 'leg and back were cut open pretty bad',
The Sun
reported.
Another wrote on social media: 'My son is on the ship and watched the whole thing. It was an adult and he did not fall through the glass thank god. He was cut up very bad and taken away.
'Someone before him was also cut coming down but didn't have a chance to relay that info back up before the next person came down.'
Vision shared on social media shows water pouring out of the gaping hole high up on the side of the slide moments after the tube shattered.
The Frightening Bolt waterslide claims to be the biggest drop at sea at 14m and is famous for its trapdoor launch and the inclusion of a full 360° loop.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the area surrounding the slide was closed temporarily after the incident.
'Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.'
The incident happened during a seven night eastern Caribbean cruise, touring ports including St Maarten, St Thomas and the Bahamas. It is due to return to Miami on Saturday.
Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas can carry up to 7600 passengers, with a crew of 2350.
Along with its sister ship, Star of the Seas, it is the largest cruise ship int he world by gross tonnage.
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