Couple drowned on ‘make or break’ cruise
A couple who took a ‘make or break’ South Pacific cruise drowned after the woman fell overboard and her partner jumped into the sea to save her, police said.
An inquest into the death of 30-year-old Australian Paul Rossington yesterday heard that his death was a ‘tragic accident’.
Video footage from the Carnival Spirit showed that his girlfriend Kristen Schroder, 26, climbed over the balcony around 9pm one evening and lost her footing on the rail, clinging on with both hands for several seconds before falling.
Immediately after, Rossington, a paramedic leapt into the sea after her, the inquest was told.
The pair was only discovered missing after the ship arrived in Sydney. Their bodies have never been found.
The inquest heard the couple had a ‘turbulent relationship’ and had been arguing at a casino and at dinner on the evening of their deaths and the coroner was told they had regarded the 11-night cruise as a ‘make or break’ trip.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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