Latest news with #PaigeBell
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
SA woman recovering after brutal attack on a Bahamas cruise ship
A South African woman is reportedly recovering at a Miami hospital after being stabbed multiple times aboard a cruise ship in the Bahamas. The incident that happened on Thursday, 24 July, comes a few weeks after Paige Bell, a Durban woman, was also stabbed to death just days before her 21st birthday aboard a cruise ship as well. The former Hillcrest High School pupil was discovered dead in the engine room of the 142-foot charter yacht Far From It . The vessel had been docked off Harbour Island, a known retreat for billionaires and celebrities. According to NBC News , the 35-year-old South African man, who was a bartender, allegedly stabbed a 28-year-old South African woman multiple times aboard the Icon of the Seas cruise ship. The cruise ship was in the waters off the coast of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Following the incident, which was reportedly a personal dispute, the man then fled the scene and jumped off the ship, according to police, but he was later found dead by onboard medical staff. 'One of the crew members was injured was attended to by the onboard medical team, and she is now in stable condition. Unfortunately, the other crew member is deceased after he went overboard and was recovered in a search and rescue operation,' a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told NBC News . Meanwhile, cruise operator Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and has pledged its full cooperation with Bahamian authorities. 'Crew safety is a top priority,' the company stated. 'We are supporting those affected and working closely with investigators.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Another South African woman brutally attacked at sea
Just weeks after the emotional outpouring of grief following the murder of South African yacht stewardess Paige Bell, another South African woman has been brutally attacked at sea – this time aboard a cruise ship in the Bahamas, while her attacker, also South African, hurled himself overboard. The Witness reports that the 28-year-old woman, working as a crew member aboard the Icon of the Seas, was stabbed multiple times, allegedly by a 35-year-old male colleague, while the ship sailed through Bahamian waters last week. The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the attack took place at around 19:30 last Thursday. The suspect allegedly stabbed the woman several times in the upper body during what police described as a 'personal dispute' before attempting to flee the scene by jumping overboard. The man was later found unresponsive and declared dead by onboard medical personnel. The victim, whose identity has not been released, is reportedly in stable condition. Royal Caribbean said in a statement that the crew initiated a search and rescue operation immediately after a man-overboard alert, signalled onboard as 'Oscar Oscar Oscar', was issued. The ship slowed and turned back to recover the man, but he could not be saved. The company said in a statement: 'Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, the crew member [who went overboard] passed away.' The Icon of the Seas was returning to Miami following stops in St. Maarten, the US Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. The ship had departed from Miami on July 19. The incident comes as South Africa continues to mourn the death of Paige Bell, a former Hillcrest High School pupil who was killed days before her 21st birthday. Her body was discovered in the engine room of a superyacht docked in the Bahamas on July 3. A 39-year-old Mexican man, also a crew member, was arrested in connection with her death. Sandra Jordaan of The Yacht Purser programme said the cruise ship incident underscored the maritime industry's persistent failure to protect workers. Long hours, isolation, high stress and a lack of accountability contribute to unsafe environments at sea. She added that calls for mandatory criminal background checks for crew had yet to be implemented across the industry. 'These are not isolated incidents,' said Jordaan. 'Until proper safety protocols are implemented, we will continue to see crew members harmed, or worse, while working in environments that too often treat them as disposable.' Bell's death sparked renewed calls for tighter regulation in the yachting sector, especially regarding background checks for crew. Many young South Africans join the maritime sector in pursuit of travel and opportunity, often entering the loosely regulated yachting industry. Jessie Frost, a former yachtie and founder of the recruitment platform Crewfolio, has been campaigning for global reform. She launched a petition on calling for mandatory and renewable criminal background checks for all seafarers. She said that although international maritime frameworks such as the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and the International Labour Organisation's Maritime Labour Convention provide guidance on training and safety, they do not require background checks. Crew continue to be placed in high-risk environments without even the most basic criminal background screening. Frost is proposing a renewable two-year certificate from a global screening provider, like existing requirements such as the ENG1 medical or STCW certification. 'There are repeat offenders in our industry who are known and named, yet they continue to find work because there's always someone unaware of their past who unknowingly gives them another opportunity,' she said. Themes of bullying, harassment, sexual and physical violence, theft and even murder surface year after year, often quietly accepted, normalised or brushed aside. Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said they could not comment, as the matter remained under investigation by Bahamian authorities. The Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, made its maiden voyage in January 2024. The 360m-long vessel boasts seven pools, the 'world's largest waterpark at sea', six waterslides and nine whirlpools, and can carry up to 5 610 passengers and 2 350 crew members across 19 floors. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
South African cruise ship worker stabbed
A 28-year-old South African woman working aboard Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is recovering in hospital after she was stabbed multiple times in an onboard attack. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the suspect – also a South African and reportedly her co-worker and partner – died after jumping overboard moments after the incident. The tragedy occurred while the cruise ship was sailing near San Salvador Island. The injured crew member was treated immediately by the ship's medical staff and later airlifted to Miami, where she remains in stable condition. Witnesses say the 35-year-old male suspect fled the scene after the stabbing, climbed over a railing, and jumped into the ocean. A rescue operation was launched within minutes, but the man was found unresponsive. He was declared dead on board a rescue vessel. Police believe the stabbing was linked to a domestic dispute between the two. Authorities are interviewing passengers and crew to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack and the suspect's fatal jump. 'We are gathering statements and evidence. Witness accounts are key to completing our investigation,' a police spokesperson said. A full report will be released once the investigation concludes. Cruise operator Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident and has pledged its full cooperation with Bahamian authorities. 'Crew safety is a top priority,' the company stated. 'We are supporting those affected and working closely with investigators.' This is the second violent incident involving a South African crew member at sea this year. In an earlier case, 20-year-old Paige Bell was found dead in the engine room of a private yacht. A Mexican crew member is currently facing culpable homicide charges. Passengers and maritime staff have voiced growing concern over the safety of South African nationals working in the cruise and yachting industries. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
23-07-2025
- The Herald
Family to hold memorial service for slain superyacht stewardess Paige Bell
Last week, Capt Douglas Meire, a prominent voice in the industry, called for a mass online meeting to force change. 'Paige Bell was part of the yachting family and the yachting community and she's gone. She was murdered. I hope that guy rots in jail. As time goes by things go to the wayside. I think we need to jump on this now.' Meire offered his platform, Yacht Industry News, and sponsors to kick-start the online conversation. 'We can discuss what crew and crew agencies can do to change this. We can get crew agents on. We can get brokers on. We can get captains on. We could all come together as a community and make plans. 'We can make real changes. This is unbelievable. I've been doing this 35 years and I've seen a lot. I've lost a lot of people. Never like this. I've lost a lot of friends, but never like this. We need to do something.' Bell's parents, who flew to the Bahamas 'to begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home but also seeking justice for the monster who took her life', and the owners of Far From It issued a joint statement a week ago. They thanked the global yachting community for honouring Bell on what would have been the biggest 21st birthday celebrations with red velvet cake and her family on July 14. 'On behalf of the Bell family and the FFI team, we are at a loss for words to express our gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support shown on July 14. The compassion from the global yachting community has been overwhelming. Paige was a beautiful, bold and fiery spirit — a true firecracker who made sure everyone knew her 21st birthday was coming. For weeks she radiated excitement, planning her big day and insisting July 14 would go off with a bang. 'Captains, that bang — the celebration you all created — far exceeded anything we could have imagined. Your tribute, unity and love honoured Paige in a way she would have adored. There is no doubt she would have been ecstatic to know her yachting family around the world celebrated with her,' they said. Meanwhile, the man charged with Bell's murder is expected to make his next court appearance in November. TimesLIVE
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Tragic last act of superyacht crew member before she was knifed to death in ship's engine room is revealed as boyfriend pays tribute
The boyfriend of a stewardess who was brutally murdered by a shipmate on a £9.5m superyacht in the Bahamas has told how the pair spent their last moments together before her death. Paige Bell, 20, from South Africa, was found dead in the engine room of the luxury motor boat Far From It on July 3 when the boat was moored in the Harbour Island resort. Now, Paige's distraught boyfriend Franco Kritzinger, who also worked on board the ship, told of how he and his stewardess partner had enjoyed a cup of coffee on the deck of the £120,000-a-week charter yacht before he took guests ashore in the ship's tender. When he returned he found a scene of chaos on board but the full horror was kept from him until the arrest of the ship's mechanic who has been charged with her murder. Police arrested a 39-year-old Mexican engineer who worked with Paige after discovering him near her body, and he was later charged with her murder. The man appeared before magistrates in the Bahamian capital of Nassau last week charged with Paige's murder but was not asked to make a plea and was not permitted bail. He was remanded in custody until November 20 when he may face further charges. Speaking to You magazine boyfriend Franco said: 'Paige was like sunshine. She always had a smile on her face. You don't realise how many people care until something like this. Paige's distraught boyfriend Franco Kritzinger, who also worked on board the ship, told of how he and his stewardess partner had enjoyed a cup of coffee on the deck of the boat moments before her death 'She was just lovely and would never harm anything or anyone and was so very special. I just feel so sorry for her parents Michelle and John who flew out here last week. 'Paige enjoyed working on the yachts but it wasn't her life dream. She had a beautiful voice and could have become a singer but her plan was to study and to become a doctor. 'That was her dream in life and what she wanted to be and she talked about it a lot. 'I remember on the day it happened we had a coffee together that morning and everything was normal and I left with the guests but when I came back Paige was gone….'. He added: 'The Bahamas held a very special place in our hearts and we went everywhere together for two years but this was so beautiful and it was here where we were happy. 'I can't believe what's happened. Everything now is just so sad' he said. Paige's 21st birthday was last Monday and she had been due to fly home from the Bahamas to Durban to celebrate with her parents and her elder sister Chelsey. Instead thousands of crews from the yachting community worldwide at her mother Michelle's behest held a minutes silence and sounded their ships horns at 1pm Bahamian time. Many accepted her mother's invitation to then tuck into Paige's favourite red velvet cake. Paige and Franco had left the 110 foot Sweet Emocean superyacht in January and joined as a couple on the bigger vessel where she was the 'meet and greet' face to guests. The cold-blooded murder of the attractive fun-loving popular stewardess rocked the island where millionaire's and numerous royals and superstars take holidays in paradise. Fellow staff could not find Paige at around lunch time and searched all six luxury VIP suites and the crew quarters before one member of staff went down to the engine room The crew member found a scene of horror with Paige dead and the blood soaked mechanic by her and the police were called along with medics and a doctor who certified her dead. A friend of Paige's said: 'She was last seen kissing Franco goodbye as he was about to take the tender out and that was about 10am and she went inside and just disappeared. 'As young girls we have to be pretty savvy around some of the super-rich guests who may think you are part of the paid entertainment but you trust your crew mates. 'Paige was a golden girl and for one of our own to do this to her is despicable' she said. The alleged murder shocked the exclusive resort of Harbour Island. It lies 60 miles to the east of the capital Nassau just off the larger island of Eleuthera. Bill Gates has a mansion on the tiny island and regular tourists who holiday there include Mick Jagger, Prince Harry, Tom Cruise, Kardashians, Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks. It is known as the 'Billionaires Backyard' as over 20 billionaires live on the paradise island. The super yacht was moored on the Valentine Marina which was sealed off while police and forensic officers examined the grim scene on the 142-foot yacht and removed the body. Paige's distraught parents Michelle and John flew out to the Bahamas having put out a poignant message saying they were going to bring her home after she is cremated. A Royal Bahamas Police Force spokesman confirmed the murder suspect remained in prison and said there would be no further comment until he reappeared in court in November. Just after 1pm on July 3, police were alerted to an incident at the marina on Harbour Island, an exclusive resort 60 miles east of the capital Nassau. Cops boarded the 43-metre yacht Far From It, where they were told that Paige had not been seen for a short period of time. They found her unresponsive in the yacht's engine room with visible injuries, before a doctor attended the scene and confirmed she had died. She was found near the engineer who had severe injuries to his arm in what police described as a suspected suicide attempt. He was apprehended, cautioned and taken to a nearby clinic for treatment, police said in a statement, before he was later charged with murder.
