‘Not good’: Rocker’s fiancée falls overboard after reported argument
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Tragic events at sea often leave more questions than answers, especially when circumstances remain unclear.
A recent incident aboard a luxury cruise has sparked shock and speculation, with authorities launching a search and rescue effort amid conflicting accounts.
What unfolded next has left many searching for the truth.
The fiancée of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe died after falling overboard from a cruise ship, sparking a frantic search effort at sea.
Kimberly Burch, 56, went overboard on 2 March from the Explorer of the Seas during The 80s Cruise, just hours after boarding the Royal Caribbean ship.
Authorities confirmed she fell from a room balcony on the first night of the seven-day cruise, which had set sail from Miami and was headed for Nassau, San Juan, and Labadee.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson stated: ‘Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.’
Burch, a realtor, had joined the cruise to support Downe, 60, who was performing with his punk band.
She had been in a relationship with the musician for around six years.
Her mother, Carnell Burch, revealed that Downe had contacted her to inform her of Kimberly’s death but that the circumstances remained unclear.
Carnell stated she did not believe her daughter would have intentionally harmed herself.
Guests on board shared their accounts of the incident, with one passenger writing on social media: ‘Currently on the #RCL Explorer of the Seas for the #80scruise. Unfortunately, we have a "woman overboard" situation and boats have been deployed. We are currently 80+ miles from Miami at 11 pm PST. Not good.’
The same individual claimed: ‘It looks like the woman "jumped" from the balcony of her 8th floor room after an argument with her partner.’
Another passenger described how the ship came to a stop as crew members deployed safety boats with floodlights, while a nearby cruise liner assisted in the search.
The U.S. Coast Guard later confirmed the incident occurred approximately 20 miles from Freeport, Bahamas.
A helicopter crew was sent to aid the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in its search, but the mission was ultimately suspended.
Carnell said her daughter had been drinking that night, which she described as ‘out of character.’
She also mentioned that Burch and Downe had argued before the incident but insisted her daughter had not been struggling with depression or emotional distress.
Passengers reported that a ship-wide announcement was made, informing them of the situation and stating that the vessel would pause its journey to assist with the search.
Despite the tragedy, the cruise continued its itinerary, arriving in Nassau behind schedule but without cancellations to planned excursions.
Downe, the lead vocalist of Faster Pussycat, rose to fame in the 1980s with the glam metal band, which sold over two million records worldwide.
The group, originally formed in 1985, released albums including Faster Pussycat, Wake Me When It's Over, Whipped!, and The Power and the Glory Hole.
They disbanded in 1993 but reunited in 2001.
Former drummer Brett Bradshaw passed away on 26 March 2021 at the age of 50.
Burch’s body has not been recovered.
In a previous story, another cruise ship experience took a devastating turn when passengers were struck by a severe illness mid-voyage.
Reports described a nightmare scenario as travellers fell sick in public spaces, leaving many unable to enjoy their trip.
Read on to see how this unsettling outbreak unfolded.
Incidents like this raise many questions about safety on cruise ships. Do you think enough is being done to prevent such tragedies?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A recent incident aboard a luxury cruise has sparked shock and speculation, with authorities launching a search and rescue effort amid conflicting accounts.
What unfolded next has left many searching for the truth.
The fiancée of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe died after falling overboard from a cruise ship, sparking a frantic search effort at sea.
Kimberly Burch, 56, went overboard on 2 March from the Explorer of the Seas during The 80s Cruise, just hours after boarding the Royal Caribbean ship.
Authorities confirmed she fell from a room balcony on the first night of the seven-day cruise, which had set sail from Miami and was headed for Nassau, San Juan, and Labadee.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson stated: ‘Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.’
Burch, a realtor, had joined the cruise to support Downe, 60, who was performing with his punk band.
She had been in a relationship with the musician for around six years.
Her mother, Carnell Burch, revealed that Downe had contacted her to inform her of Kimberly’s death but that the circumstances remained unclear.
Carnell stated she did not believe her daughter would have intentionally harmed herself.
Guests on board shared their accounts of the incident, with one passenger writing on social media: ‘Currently on the #RCL Explorer of the Seas for the #80scruise. Unfortunately, we have a "woman overboard" situation and boats have been deployed. We are currently 80+ miles from Miami at 11 pm PST. Not good.’
The same individual claimed: ‘It looks like the woman "jumped" from the balcony of her 8th floor room after an argument with her partner.’
Another passenger described how the ship came to a stop as crew members deployed safety boats with floodlights, while a nearby cruise liner assisted in the search.
The U.S. Coast Guard later confirmed the incident occurred approximately 20 miles from Freeport, Bahamas.
A helicopter crew was sent to aid the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in its search, but the mission was ultimately suspended.
Carnell said her daughter had been drinking that night, which she described as ‘out of character.’
She also mentioned that Burch and Downe had argued before the incident but insisted her daughter had not been struggling with depression or emotional distress.
Passengers reported that a ship-wide announcement was made, informing them of the situation and stating that the vessel would pause its journey to assist with the search.
Despite the tragedy, the cruise continued its itinerary, arriving in Nassau behind schedule but without cancellations to planned excursions.
Downe, the lead vocalist of Faster Pussycat, rose to fame in the 1980s with the glam metal band, which sold over two million records worldwide.
The group, originally formed in 1985, released albums including Faster Pussycat, Wake Me When It's Over, Whipped!, and The Power and the Glory Hole.
They disbanded in 1993 but reunited in 2001.
Former drummer Brett Bradshaw passed away on 26 March 2021 at the age of 50.
Burch’s body has not been recovered.
In a previous story, another cruise ship experience took a devastating turn when passengers were struck by a severe illness mid-voyage.
Reports described a nightmare scenario as travellers fell sick in public spaces, leaving many unable to enjoy their trip.
Read on to see how this unsettling outbreak unfolded.
Incidents like this raise many questions about safety on cruise ships. Do you think enough is being done to prevent such tragedies?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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