‘He Didn’t Jump’: Passenger Allegedly Fell Off Cruise Ship During Argument With Staff After They Teased Him For Being Gay

An attorney for the family of 35-year-old Bernardo Albaz, the man who fell off the Royal Caribbean cruise ship this week, claimed the man did not “jump” or commit suicide. Rather, the family said Albaz fell off his balcony onto the life boat below during an altercation with cruise ship staff. The family said the man was upset after being teased by bar staff for being gay. The staff allegedly said, “hi, lipstick,” and made other jokes of that nature. The altercation led to the man falling to the life boat below and ultimately plunging into the ocean where he was never recovered.

The Daily Mail reported the family of Bernardo Albaz, the man presumed dead after falling off of the Oasis of the Seas Royal Caribbean cruise liner, blamed anti-gay remarks made by staff toward the man and his husband as the reason for his death. The family claimed that Albaz was tormented at the bar by employees who made jokes about his sexual orientation.

Mike Winkleman, attorney for the Albaz family, said Albaz was so upset after the last altercation at the bar that security ended up being called to his cabin. When security arrived at the cabin, which featured a balcony, an altercation ensued. According to Winkleman, this was when Albaz went overboard. He said the man did not jump or commit suicide, but rather fell off the balcony to the life boat below during the altercation with Royal Caribbean security in his room.

“It was not a suicide. Bernardo did not jump.”

The family is blaming the anti-gay remarks made toward Albaz and his husband as the contributing factor to the altercation. It appears that video taken during the horrifying moments leading up to Albaz falling into the ocean may validate the story further. When the video was first released, many commented on the strange dialogue that was taking place. Someone could be heard yelling and calling another person a murderer. The person seemed to be directing their comments to the black-suited staff members that were attempting to bring Bernardo back in from the life boat as he dangled helplessly by his hands. However, when the video was released, reports indicated that the fall was a suicide. The comments seemed strange and out-of-place.

Watch the video below and listen to the strange conversation that took place as the man dangled from the life boat. Warning: the following video contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.

With the new information, the comments in the video make a bit more sense. Calling the staff murderers would make more sense had the altercation led to the man falling from the balcony. Additionally, the man said, “you did this,” indicating the man had not jumped freely. When the man fell into the water, screams of panic can be heard as one lady tells the others to throw the life preserver to the man below.

The family’s lawyer said the jokes about the gay couple were ongoing throughout the cruise.

“There were several different occasions where there were anti-gay remarks against this legal-married gay couple like, ‘Hi, lipstick.'”

The lawyer said the man screaming in the video is Albaz’s husband, Eric. He noted that it was Eric who was calling the security guards murderers for their actions and that they were responsible for the fatal fall. The video began just as the man fell to the life boat below. From what can be seen, it seems that the family’s story is, at least in part, true since the security guards were clearly in the area at the time of the incident.

#BreakingNews USCG rescue crews suspend search for missing cruise ship passenger after searching 931 square nautical miles.

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) November 7, 2015

What do you think should happen if it is discovered the Royal Caribbean staff made anti-gay comments that led to the altercation between Albaz and the security guards?

[Image via WPTV]