EXCLUSIVESky Princess passenger who fell to her death on Caribbean cruise is seen boarding ship in haunting final photo
The American tourist who fell to her death on a cruise ship has been pictured smiling as she excitedly boarded the boat with her mother just days before.
Elizabeth McElmurray, 48, was named by devastated relatives who are still trying to come to terms with her death.
She died on the Sky Princess on December 21 as it returned to Florida from the Caribbean.
While the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, Princess Cruises says she fell while trying to 'jump' into the water, inadvertently landing on one of the cruise ship decks.
On December 15, McElmurray shared a photograph of herself smiling alongside her mother as they boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale.
They were setting sail to scatter the ashes of her mother's husband on his favorite beach in Jamaica.
'I never expected to lose my daughter. I want to also publicly thank the crew for their kindness and compassion during this ordeal,' her devastated mother said in an online tribute.
McElmurray's younger brother paid tribute in another post.
'She was an amazing woman that loved her family,' he said.
Elizabeth McElmurray, 48, who tumbled to her death from a cruise ship during a Christmas Caribbean tour has been pictured smiling as she excitedly boarded the boat with her mother just days before. (McElmurray is pictured left, with her mother, Ellen Downie Mathews, right)
McElmurray, 48, was named by devastated relatives who are still trying to come to terms with her death. It remains unclear exactly what caused her to fall from the Sky Princess ship
'Her nurturing nature for animals was a wonderful quality we shared together I want to thank everyone who tried to help her and everyone's kind words.
'This is a loss that is so very heavy. Remember to tell your family and friends you love them, make them smile and laugh even when life is hard. Find beauty when ever you can and strength will follow.'
McElmurray was a manager at retailer Circle K, according to social media profiles. She was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and lived in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Passengers on board told DailyMail.com the captain gave the devastating announcement that McElmurray had died over the speakers on Saturday.
They told DailyMail.com she had tried to jump into the water from one of the top decks, but hit a lifeboat deck around 10 floors below instead. Police were seen combing the cruise ship later that day.
The ship had been making its way back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida from an eight-day voyage to Cozumel, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and the cruise line's private Bahamian resort, Princess Cays, at the time.
'Princess Cruises is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of a 48-year-old American female guest who attempted to jump overboard earlier today aboard Sky Princess,' the operator told DailyMail.com in a statement.
'The guest fell to a lower deck, where she was promptly rescued. Shipboard personnel immediately provided emergency medical care, but despite their best efforts, she could not be revived.
'Our heartfelt condolences go out to the guest's family and friends during this profoundly difficult time. Grief support services are being offered to guests and crew members affected by this event.
Cruise officials said the woman tried to jump and fell to a lower deck, where she was pronounced dead
McElmurray's younger brother, Mac DeLuca McElmurray, confirmed she was the passenger who died on board the Sky Princess ship on Saturday, while sharing the above photo
McElmurray (pictured) was a manager at retailer Circle K, according to her social media profiles. She was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and lived in Wakefield, Massachusetts
'Princess Cruises is cooperating fully with local and federal authorities as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
'Sky Princess remains on course to arrive in Fort Lauderdale from Cozumel as scheduled tomorrow, Sunday, December 22, following a 7-day round-trip Western Caribbean voyage that began on December 15. The ship is scheduled to depart on its next Eastern Caribbean sailing later tomorrow.'
News of the woman's passing first spread on social media, with another passenger posting in a Facebook group that a 'tragic incident' occurred onboard the ship.
One woman shared a video to TikTok of the captain's announcement about the passenger's death.
'We understand that this event may be distressing for many of you,' the captain said, before alerting passengers that grief counseling services would be made available to them.
Others also shared their experiences on the Princess Cruise's Reddit page.
There have been 18 man overboard incidents on cruise ships in 2024, including McElmurray, according to Cruise Radio.
