The Associated Press reports that a cruise ship passenger from New Mexico died after falling from a zip line in Puerto Rico.
Police said the 56 year old passenger fell approximately 20 feet from the zip line at the Hacienda Campo Rico outside of San Juan. "She could not move her legs and complained of chest pain after falling. She died at a hospital hours later."
The excursion company involved is Ecoquest Adventures & Tours. The cruise passenger was one of two dozen passengers taking the excursion, according to the AP. The cruise line was not identified
The zip lining industry in Puerto Rico and other countires where cruise ships go are largely unregulated. Each year there are numerous injuries and deaths on zip lines around the world. The AP reports that "nearly 17,000 people were treated for injuries from 1997 to 2012."
CBS News says that the deaths have "drawn attention to a regulatory safety net full of holes."
Cruise lines who send passengers on excursions should have protocols in place to ensure that third party excursions undergo safety inspections.
It is not unknown whether the line broke, or there was a problem with the harness and hardware.
The zip line company’s website says that it uses "double cable(s)" for "double protection." It identifies Carnival and Disney as cruise lines that it does business with.
Photo Credit: Campo Rico Zip Lining by Ecoquest