A 30-year-old Australian paramedic named Paul Rossington courageously leaps from a cruise ship to save his girlfriend, Kristen Schroder. The 26-year-old Schroder apparently slipped from the fifth level balcony of the Carnival Spirit cruise ship. Both Rossington and Schroder died in the accident but their bodies have not yet been found. The couple died on the last night of the cruise but were not noticed missing until the ship docked in Sydney Australia.
Witnesses from the cruise ship say that Schroder was climbing over the balcony of their cabin when she suddenly slipped.She clung on for about four seconds before falling, first hitting the railing of a lower deck and then somersaulting into the Tasman Sea. Moments later Mr Rossington jumps out of bed and over the railing into the water.
The police refer to Rossington's actions as an "act of supreme courage". Before the couples' deaths, they had been seen arguing at a casino and at dinner. Rossington jumped nearly 20 meters into the Tasman Sea.
In a CCTV footage from the ship the couple were seen after a short dispute, the pair shared a kiss before Ms Schroder walked away. Two hours later, the couple were seen arguing over dinner on the final night of the cruise, with Mr Rossington accusing his girlfriend of flirting with another man before leaving the table and heading back to their cabin.
Around 9 pm, further infrared CCTV footage showed a figure in dark clothing, presumably Ms Schroder, climbing over the balcony of their cabin before apparently slipping, clinging on for four seconds, then falling. Moments later a second figure - presumably Mr Rossington - jumps over the railing into the water. His much brighter signature on the infrared CCTV indicates he was warm and naked when he jumped. Their deaths are very tragic, but Paul Rossington's bravery will not be forgotten.
