Chloe Wiegand: Family of toddler who fell 11 stories to her death blame cruise liner
The family of late one-year-old Chloe Wiegand dispelled reports that she fell from her grandfathers arms and blames the cruise company
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Your support makes all the difference.The family of Chloe Wiegand, the toddler who fell 11 stories to her death on a cruise ship, have spoken out blaming the cruise liner for her death.
While initial reports from police claimed that baby Chloe had fallen out of her grandfathers arms, the family claims that Chloe was sat on a railing near a wall in a children’s area while on a cruise to Puerto Rico.
The family alleges that one of the windows in the wall had been opened, and when the young child went to press herself against it, she fell to her death.
“Essentially her grandfather lifts her up and puts her on a railing and where he thinks that there is glass there because it’s clear, but it turns out there was no glass there,” said family lawyer Michael Winkleman.
“She goes to bang on the glass like she would have at one of those hockey rinks, and the next thing you know, she’s gone.”
The family lawyer asserts that the cruise company, Royal Caribbean, should have known better than to leave an 11th story window open in a children’s play area, Today reports.
“Why in the world would you leave a window open in an entire glass wall full of windows in a kids area?” he said. “I mean, why would you have that kind of a hidden danger without any warning, without any sign, without any notice?”
In a statement, Royal Caribbean said: “We’ve made our Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need.”
The cruise company continued: “Out of respect for their privacy, we do not plan to comment further on the incident.”
When asked on why the window that baby Chloe allegedly fell out of was open, the cruise company said: “We are assisting local authorities in San Juan, PR, as they make inquiries after an incident aboard Freedom of the Seas on Sunday. We do not have further information to share at this point.”
Puerto Rican authorities have confirmed baby Chloe’s death and are investigating what led up to it.
“Puerto Rico’s department of public safety is working on the case with the seriousness and sensitivity it requires,” said Anthony O. Maceira Zayas, who serves as Puerto Rico’s secretary for public affairs.
“We pray God fills with strength this family who is living today a real tragedy.”
Chloe’s parents hope to take her body home to South Bend, Indiana soon.
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