Toddler plunges to death onto a concrete floor after slipping from her grandfather’s hands

Indiana toddler slips from grandfather's hands, falls to her death on cruise ship [photo courtesy ]

A toddler who fell to her death after slipping from her granddad's arms on a cruise ship has been pictured.

Mum Kimberley Schultz Wiegand could be heard screaming in pain after her 18-month-old daughter Chloe plunged 150ft feet from the Freedom of the Seas liner.

Her grandfather, Salvatorre Anello, reportedly told police that he lost grip of his granddaughter who fell onto concrete and was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

The ship was docked in the Pan American II dock in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.

The child's father has been identified as South Bend police officer Alan Wiegand.

Fellow travellers revealed they heard the heartbroken parent wailing in agony in the wake of the tragedy.

A nearby passenger told Telemundo PR: "We heard the screams of the families because we were close.

"A cry of pain of that nature does not compare with any other cry."

Chloe and her extended family from Indiana were vacationing together aboard the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship, operated by the Royal Caribbean cruise line.  

Both her sets of grandparents, her parents and her younger brother were on board the ship at the time.

The South Bend Police Department in Indiana said in a statement: "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 and to respect their privacy."

Police have said they believe the incident was a tragic accident but an investigation into the death is ongoing.

Elmer Román, of the local Department of Public Security, said: "Police have now launched an investigation and are trawling CCTV of the ship.

"At this time (the Division of) Homicide is in place. It has not been possible to interview the family.

"It is a very strong scene, very sad and tragic. At one point, one of her grandparents... in an act of games, exposes the girl to the void and falls out of his hands."

A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean said: "We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family.

“We’ve made our Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need.

“Out of respect for their privacy, we do not plan to comment further on the incident."

The Freedom of the Seas, which can accommodate nearly 5,000 people was ending a week-long Caribbean cruise through Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados.