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Grandfather who dropped toddler from cruise ship in apparent accident could face charges

Safety officials are gathering evidence and trying to determine whether to file negligence charges against the grandfather.
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Freedom of the Seas cruise ship is seen docked at the San Juan Port, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, June 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

An investigation is underway after an Indiana toddler apparently slipped from her grandfather’s hands and fell to her death from a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico.

The 1-year-old girl’s grandfather apparently lost his grip while holding her near a window on the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship, which is owned by Florida-based Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Previous: 1-year-old dies after falling from cruise ship in Puerto Rico

CBS News reports Puerto Rican safety officials told a local newspaper that detectives are gathering evidence and trying to determine whether to file negligence charges against the grandfather.

The grandfather’s boss told CBS affiliate WSBT that he is a model employee.

"People just love him here in the county," Mike Hamann said. "He's a very selfless man, he's got a servant's heart, as we say. And just one of the most wonderful human beings that you could ever meet."

CBS News reports toddler was aboard the ship with her two siblings, parents and four grandparents.

Falling off a cruise ship is very rare, according to CBS News. It's estimated that more than 28 million people went on a cruise last year. According to a website that tracks people falling off them, since 2000, only around 340 people have gone overboard.

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