Horrified witnesses told how they heard her mother Kimberley Schultz Wiegand “screaming in pain” after 18-month-old Chloe fell from the 11th floor of the Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas liner. Chloe was allegedly being dangled out of a window of the docked ship by her grandfather Salvatorre Anello when she fell 150ft to the concrete below and died. Freedom of the Seas was in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, at the time. The 18-month-old tot was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
The toddler is said to have hailed from Indiana, USA, according to local news site Primer Hora, and was on holiday with her parents, younger brother and grandparents.
Her father has been identified as South Bend police officer Alan Wiegand.
Travellers on board the ship told how they heard the baby’s heartbroken mother wailing in agony following the tragedy.
A passenger told Telemundo PR: “We heard the screams of the families because we were close.
“A cry of pain of that nature does not compare with any other cry.”
The South Bend Police Department in Indiana said in a statement: “The South Bend Police Department offers its sincerest condolences to Officer Alan Wiegand and his family during this difficult time following the tragic loss of their child while in Puerto Rico.
“The department asks the community to pray for the entire Wiegand family as they grieve and to respect their privacy.”
Police said they believe the incident was a accident but an investigation into the death is underway.
Elmer Román, of the local Department of Public Security, said: “Police have now launched an investigation and are trawling CCTV of the ship.
“At this time (the Division of) Homicide is in place. It has not been possible to interview the family. It is a very strong scene, very sad and tragic.
“At one point, one of her grandparents… in an act of games, exposes the girl to the void and falls out of his hands.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises described the death as a tragic accident, saying: “We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family.
“We’ve made our Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need.
“Out of respect for their privacy, we do not plan to comment further on the incident.”