Carnival cruise ship brawl video: passengers and crew filmed in clash on board

Carnival cruise ship brawl video: passengers and crew filmed in clash on board
Patrick Grafton-Green https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/extraordinary-video-shows-passenge...

Extraordinary video footage shows passengers and crew violently brawling on board a cruise ship, reportedly forcing terrified families to hide in their cabins.

The footage shows chaotic scenes as several security staff members pin a man to the ground while others are dragged away.

A woman’s piercing screams ring out before a crew member lies on top of the man while another kicks him several times.

As the scuffle unfolds ship staff repeatedly attempt to stop the filming.

A number of fights are understood to have broken out as the 10-day exotic trip to the South Pacific turned into a nightmare for passengers, who branded it the “cruise from hell”.

One particular family group was reportedly responsible for targeting other passengers.

Pictures have emerged showing passengers with cuts and bruises, with as many as 30 believed to have suffered injuries.

David Barkho told Australian radio station 3AW that he received a call from his son begging him to alert the police.

His son told him that there were “a lot of people bleeding, a lot of people down on the ground”.

Mr Barkho added: “I could hear a lot of screaming, crying in the background.”

Another passenger told 9News that violence erupted on several occasions.

The passenger said: "We are so scared after witnessing a traumatic experience with yet again the same offenders. It was a bloodbath.”

The Carnival Legend cruise bound for Melbourne was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Eden, New South Wales, to allow police to intervene.

Police said six men and three teenage boys were removed from the ship and that a further 14 passengers also left.

A Carnival Cruise Line spokesman said in a statement: “Safety is the number one priority for Carnival Cruise Line, we take a zero tolerance approach to excessive behaviour that affects other guests and we have acted accordingly on Carnival Legend.

"The ship’s highly trained security staff have taken strong action in relation to a small group of disruptive guests who have been involved in altercations on board.

"The ship’s security team is applying our zero tolerance policy in the interests of the safety and comfort of other guests."