Reports of a violent brawl aboard a cruise ship has seen a Carnival Cruise Lines vessel dock in Eden with Australia Federal Police preparing to board.
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Up to 30 people have been injured on the Carnival Legend in what passengers have described as “the cruise from hell”, Melbourne media reported.
Some of those injured have also claimed security staff were heavy-handed in their response and allegedly destroying evidence on people’s phones.
Residents and onlookers in Eden have described a large police presence at the wharf as it’s understood they prepare to make multiple arrests.
Officers from the Marine Area Command received reports of people fighting on board the ship and responded to Snug Cove in Eden, where the cruise ship, bound for Melbourne, had made a detour, a police spokeswoman said.
MAC officers, with support from the Operations Support Group are currently on board speaking to crew and passengers, with a number of arrests expected to be made.
Neil Mitchell on radio station 3AW has been speaking to people on board the ship as it sits off Eden.
Mr Mitchell spoke to David Barko, who said his son George, 20, sustained head injuries in the bloody brawl which broke out before 1am Friday morning.
He told 3AW his son called him, begging him to call police.
“When he called, I could hear a lot of kids crying, screaming and swearing,” he said.
“He said ‘All I can see is security …. up to 40 … bashing kids, bashing women, hitting them … arresting them, putting them into small rooms.
“A lot of people are bleeding, a lot of people are down.
“He said ‘security came in and took my phone and deleted a lot of images because I took pictures’.”
Listen to part of his interview here:
A statement from Carnival supplied to 3AW stated: “Safety is the number one priority for Carnival Cruise Line, we take a zero tolerance approach to excessive behaviour that affects other guests and we have acted accordingly on Carnival Legend”.
“The ship’s highly trained security staff have taken strong action in relation to a small group of disruptive guests who have been involved in altercations on board.
“The ship’s security team is applying our zero tolerance policy in the interests of the safety and comfort of other guests.
“Carnival Legend is currently on a 10-day South Pacific cruise scheduled to be completed in Melbourne tomorrow [Saturday].”
More to come
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
