Carnival Cruise Guest Hospitalized After Honduras Rope Swing Accident
A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for one Louisiana woman after a serious injury during a shore excursion on her very first cruise.
What Happened to Kirsten Lindsey?
Kirsten Lindsey was on a Carnival cruise when she was badly hurt on day three of the trip. The incident happened at Little French Key, a popular excursion spot in Roatan, Honduras. She was using a rope swing when things went terribly wrong.
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Her boyfriend, Blake Ford, . He said a retrieval line — also called a tag line — on the rope swing appeared to be improperly connected. Just before Lindsey dropped into the water, the line tightened between her legs.
The Injury Was Worse Than It First Appeared
At first, Lindsey thought she had only gotten a scratch. Ford wrote that she came back to the dock “laughing off the pain.” But within hours, swelling and pain got much worse.
Lindsey ended up spending over 12 hours in the cruise ship’s medical center. The swelling became so bad that she needed a wheelchair to get back to their cabin. Ford said the affected area eventually swelled to roughly the size of a baseball.
Tough Choices in the Middle of the Ocean
Ford said he called 911 from the ship before Lindsey was taken to the onboard medical facility. The couple paid around $4,000 out of pocket for that initial treatment.
As her condition kept getting worse, the couple faced a difficult decision. They were given three options:
- Stay in the ship’s medical center for the rest of the cruise
- Get treated at a hospital in Mexico and find their own way home
- Pay for an emergency medical evacuation back to the United States
“We chose the air evacuation because we believed it was the best way to get Kirsten the care she needed,” Ford said. The nearest port with airport access was Costa Maya, Mexico, so that’s where the evacuation departed from.
Emergency Evacuation and Surgery
An ambulance took Lindsey to the airport in Costa Maya. From there, a private medical jet flew her to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was then treated at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where she had her first surgery.
After returning to Louisiana, Lindsey continued her recovery at CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport. A second surgery was also underway. Ford shared updates on Facebook, writing that medical staff were “doing everything they can to prevent permanent damage.”
The Financial Toll Is Staggering
The emergency evacuation alone cost about $50,000. Ford said the flight from Costa Maya ran around $20,000, with another $30,000 to get back to the United States. On top of that, the couple is dealing with growing medical bills, travel costs, and lost income.
A GoFundMe was set up to help Lindsey and her family. As of July 21, it had raised more than $13,500. In the comments of Ford’s post, Lindsey thanked supporters and asked for continued prayers: “Please keep them coming for the days of recovery to come. Thank y’all all so much.”
What Cruise Travelers Should Know
This story is a sobering reminder of the risks that can come with shore excursions. Even activities that seem fun and low-key can go wrong in an instant. Here are a few important takeaways for cruise travelers:
- Buy travel insurance before you sail. Medical evacuations can cost tens of thousands of dollars. A good travel insurance policy can cover much or all of that cost.
- Research excursions carefully. Not all activities at ports of call follow the same safety standards. Read reviews and ask questions before signing up.
- Know what medical care is available onboard. Cruise ship medical centers can handle emergencies, but they have limits. Understanding your options ahead of time matters.
- Keep emergency contacts and insurance info handy. In a crisis, having everything organized can save precious time.
