A woman who fell to her death on a cruise ship returning to Florida from the Caribbean has been identified as an American tourist who had been traveling with her mother, according to a report.
Elizabeth McElmurray, 48, posted a photo on social media of herself smiling with her mom as they entered the cruise at Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 15 — just six days before she died in the tragic episode, the Daily Mail reported.
McElmurray’s devastated relatives also posted tributes to her on social media in the days following her death, the outlet reported.
“I never expected to lose my daughter. I want to also publicly thank the crew for their kindness and compassion during this ordeal,” McElmurray’s mother wrote in one of the posts.
“She was an amazing woman that loved her family,” McElmurray’s younger brother added in another post.
The cruise line said in a statement following the incident that McElmurray died after trying to dive overboard, but instead crashing onto the boat’s lower deck.
“Princess Cruises is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of a 48-year-old female guest who attempted to jump overboard earlier today,” the cruise line wrote, according to Cruise Radio.
“The guest fell to a lower deck, where she was promptly rescued,” the statement continued.
“Shipboard personnel immediately provided emergency medical care, but despite their best efforts, she could not be revived.”
Local and federal authorities are still reviewing the episode.