Investigation Continues After Boy Drowns In Cruise Ship Pool

MIAMI (CBS4) - An investigation is underway to determine how a six year old boy from Winter Garden drowned in a swimming pool onboard the Carnival Cruise Ship Victory.

Qwentyn Hunter from Winter Garden was playing with his 10-year old brother in a mid-ship pool on board the Victory on Sunday when he was spotted motionless under the water.

"While the ship was at sea on the last leg of a four-day Caribbean cruise, a six-year-old boy drowned in the midship pool. He was at the pool area with other family members at the time," Carnival Cruise Line said in the statement.

Passengers pulled the boy from the water and tried to revive him with CPR.

"Everyone was crying, the family was distraught. They had to pull the mother away and the father. The father was next to his son pleading and begging his son to stay alive," explained passenger Shaina Shaw, also crying when she recalled the moment.

Like most cruise lines, Carnival does not provide lifeguards on its ships.

In a statement to CBS This Morning, Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line responded to the drowning.

"As with many land based hotels and resorts with swimming pools, cruise ships provide conspicuous signage to alert passengers that a lifeguard is not on duty. Parental supervision is required for children under the age of 13, in this case a parent was present at the time of the incident."

Carole Finklehoffe, who specializes in maritime law, told CBS This Morning they could have done more.

"Is it reasonable to put a lifeguard around the pools? Yes, it is reasonable to put a lifeguard around pools and the cruise lines are just not taking this reasonable step."

Finklehoffe said passengers are easily distracted on pool decks and warning signs are not enough.

"They have deck attendants and pool attendants walking around with drinks why can't they just have someone by the pool," said Finklehoffe.

Carnival says this is the first time a child has drowned aboard one of its ships.

Police say Hunter's death appears to have been an accident.