The little girl was being held by her grandfather when he lost his grip on her.
Cruise ship passengers are recalling the terrifying cry let out by the mother of a 19-month-old girl after the child fell 11 stories to the dock below.
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when the tragic accident happened Sunday.
The toddler and her family were on the 11th floor pool deck enjoying sweeping views of San Juan. Her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, told cops he was holding her up to a window when he lost his grip and she accidentally slipped out of his arms.
The child plunged 150 feet onto the concrete below and was rushed to hospital, where she died.
Witnesses said the mother's anguished cry did “not compare to any other scream.”
Police investigating the incident were spotted examining the cruise ship window, which can be opened from the inside.
The girl is the daughter of Indiana police officer Alan Wiegand and his wife, Kimberly.
“The South Bend Police Department offers its sincerest condolences to officer Alan Wiegand and his family during this difficult time following the tragic loss of their child while in Puerto Rico. The department asks the community to pray for the entire Wiegand family as they grieve,” the police department said in a statement.
Owen Torres, corporate communications manager for Royal Caribbean, told CBS News that the cruise operator was "deeply saddened by yesterday's tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family." Torres said that the company had made its "Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need.”
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