New Video Shows Moments Before Man Goes Overboard
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – New video is giving us a deeper look into the moments leading up to a man going overboard off the Oasis of the Seas.
In the video, you can hear Bernardo Elbaz's distraught husband Erik screaming, "Oh my God! What have you done? Oh my God." Next thing you can see is cell phone video of Bernardo clinging to a life boat lift.
"The guy fell overboard," a security guard is heard saying in the video.
Erik responds in the video, "He didn't fall. You pushed him. You killed him. He didn't jump. He didn't jump."
As Bernardo is holding on, Erik tells security it's their fault he went over.
Broward Sheriff's Office investigators and Royal Caribbean said Bernardo jumped. His attorney said while he planned to hurl himself over the balcony, he didn't jump.
At some point before Bernardo goes overboard, the video goes to black for six seconds.
"The portion that you cannot see, that's blacked out, because of the family's wishes. It's Bernardo saying in half Portuguese and half English, because of this, because of Royal Caribbean, I'm throwing myself," said Attorney Mike Winkleman.
The attorney for Bernardo's husband tried to explain how he went overboard.
"If he didn't jump, he either fell or as a result of Erik chasing after him as you can see and Royal Caribbean security guard coming after him, as they were trying to rescue him they weren't able to. The momentum of all of them getting to him at the same time, they were not able to stop him from going over which is why he said he didn't fall, you pushed him," said Winkleman.
The video shows someone grabbing on to Bernardo as he hung over the water with two others nearby. Seconds later, Bernardo plunged into the water.
"You guys pushed him. You had him right there and you let him go. Why? You had him. Why did you let him go," said Erik.
Royal Caribbean released a statement on the incident saying, "The attorney's disproven claims that our security staff had any culpability in this tragedy are shameful and offensive, particularly when our crew members put their own lives at risk trying to save the guest after he jumped from his balcony.
