The father of Levion Parker, a 20-year-old man who leapt from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, believes that his son is still alive. Levion, who is a master diver and works on a commercial fishing boat, jumped from the 11th floor of the ship while it was just hours away from port in Fort Lauderdale. Despite the U.S. Coast Guard calling off their search for Levion, his father remains confident that his prayers were heard and that his son is alive. There were reports of an argument before Levion jumped, but his father denies having argued with him beforehand. He stated that Levion had alcohol on the ship but believes it was not a suicide.
According to another passenger on the cruise, there was an altercation between Levion, his brother, and their father before Levion jumped overboard. Witnesses reported that Levion’s father was reprimanding him for being drunk, and Levion responded by jumping out of the window in front of everyone. The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard to find Levion. The situation was described as somber as passengers came out of their cabins to stare at the sea in hopes of aiding in the search efforts. Levion’s family, who were guests on the cruise, were said to be horrified and beside themselves at the tragic event.
Royal Caribbean, the cruise line involved, stated that they were cooperating with the U.S. Coast Guard’s search efforts for Levion. The family was on the cruise as guests of a Florida-based air conditioning wholesaler for their 50th anniversary. Dozens of contractors were invited on the cruise as well. Reports indicate that between 2000 and 2020, about 386 people have gone overboard on major cruise lines with only 28% surviving between 2009 and 2019. Levion’s father expressed disbelief at how his son was served so much alcohol on the ship, considering the minimum age for drinking on a Royal Caribbean cruise is 21.
Passengers on the cruise described a chaotic scene after Levion jumped overboard, with lots of yelling and crew members being alerted immediately. The ship was moving quickly at night, and crew members launched smaller boats for search efforts after turning the ship around to return to the area where Levion went overboard. Despite the challenges of searching for someone in the open sea, the crew and passengers were hopeful that Levion could be found. There is ongoing debate surrounding the circumstances of Levion’s jump, with his father insisting it was not a suicide and expressing his firm belief that his son is still alive.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s search efforts were called off in Cuban waters, leaving Levion’s fate uncertain. Levion’s family, particularly his father, continues to hold onto hope that he is alive and safe. Witnesses on the cruise recalled the tragic events leading up to Levion’s jump and the immediate response from the ship’s crew. The ship, which was on its way to Port Lauderdale after several days of sailing, was a scene of shock and distress for passengers and crew members alike. The resilience and determination of Levion’s family, along with the support of the community, highlight the impact of such a tragic event on those involved.
