A cruise passenger travelling on cruise ship Carnival Fascination had her life saved thanks to the actions of two quick-thinking men. The girl was visiting St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands with Carnival Cruise Line on Monday when her wheelchair rolled off a dock and she fell into the water. Fortunately, locals Randolph Donovan and Kashief ‘Kuntry’ Hamilton, who were nearby, sprang into action. Heart-stopping footage shows Donovan in the water holding onto the girl while a life ring is placed around her.
Hamilton can be seen fastening a rope around the girl and Donovan as officials help pull them up.
The two men were working for an entertainment group at the West Indian Company dock when the accident happened, reported The Virgin Islands Consortium. Hamilton had even been DJ-ing before he spotted the girl in the water.
Further footage shows the girl lying on the deck as she is attended to by emergency personnel.
Donovan and Hamilton (also known as DJ Country) have been praised for their heroic actions in saving the cruise passenger’s life.
Donovan – who is seen being tearfully thanked for his efforts by the girl’s family – wrote on Facebook about the incident afterwards.
“I couldn’t think I just had to move real quick,” he posted. “I cannot stop thinking about the way she was looking I told myself I had to save her the water was deep.
“And when I see the wheelchair going under the weight and the fight that she put on me, I was in a tight situation. I keep screaming, saying ‘I cannot hold on no more’.
“Thanks to DJ Country he was right there in the water to help, now she have another day to talk about this day (sic).”
Hamilton also shared his response on social media. “Wake up this morning set and ready to go DJ on WICO Dock for the tourist coming in on the carnival ship, not knowing I will be saving a tourist life,” he posted on Facebook.
“Thank God we all are safe and sound. The love that is coming is tremendous and I want to say thank you to each and everyone.
“Situation like this all you can do is act and hope for the best. Randolph Donovan I’m glad that we did what we did and we are ok… VI Strong (sic).”
Kurt Vialet, the senator for the 31st and 32nd Legislature of the Virgin Islands, praised both men.
“Everyday heroes with unassuming personalities live among us!” he posted on Facebook.
“Earlier today I announced on the Senate floor the heroic mission of two individuals from St. Thomas who saved a young girl’s life who fell in the ocean by the WICO dock.
“Hats off and kudos to Mr. Kashief General Kuntry Hamilton and Mr. Junior Donovan! Job well done and thank you for your willingness to assist with this duty today! I know that young lady’s family is forever grateful and we as a people are proud of you! Again, thank you heroes!!!”
Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism added: “Our team at the Department of Tourism truly value their heroic efforts, and thanks to them, a young visitor’s life was saved.
“We often say that ‘Tourism Is All of Us,’ and Kashief and Randolph truly embodied that message. The two young men are back at work today welcoming our guests after yesterday’s selfless and heroic act. We’re proud of you – well done!”
A Carnival spokesperson told Fox News that the girl was examined by medical staff following the accident but did not sustain any inquires.
They added that the guest was provided with a replacement wheelchair for the remainder of the cruise.
Express.co.uk has contacted Carnival for further comment on the incident.
A former cruise ship worker has revealed that crew have a codeword for when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship. Ex cruise employee Joshua Kinser
told Express.co.uk that “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” signified someone had fallen overboard.
“This only occurred a few times on the ships I was aboard, but it seems to happen much more aboard cruise liners than most passengers probably think,” he said.