Woman survives minor injuries and five hours in the Gulf of Mexico
According to news reports, Celeste Clarice Partee made a big splash during her spring break when she fell nine stories from a cruise ship balcony into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Grand Princess cruise liner was several hours off the shore of Galveston, Texas on March 25 when Partee, a sophomore sociology major, fell along with 22-year-old Air Force Academy cadet, Ernesto Guzmanir, 7 News reported.
Other passengers on the ship said Partee and Guzmanir were re-enacting a famous scene from the movie “Titanic,” in which the characters lean against the rail of the ship, when they fell, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
The two treaded water for five hours until the cruise liner turned around and dispatched life boats. According to the Associated Press, both were retrieved with minor injuries, though Partee has yet to return to classes.
Guzmanir attributed his training at the Air Force Academy to his ability to tread water for so long. A Denver passenger on the cruise liner recorded the rescue effort, which was televised on 7 News.
Consequently, Partee and Guzmanir’s fall has created an even larger splash in the media. Partee has been contacted by numerous national and local media sources. One of Partee’s sorority sisters at Alpha Chi Omega, who declined to be named, said news organizations sent Partee messages on Facebook.com in hopes of attaining a statement. But Partee has chosen not to speak publicly about the incident thus far.
CU Spokesman Bronson Hilliard said he has also been contacted by numerous media sources but has no further information pertaining to Partee’s condition.
“We’re glad she’s all right and it is a good lesson for other students,” said Hilliard. “But this doesn’t involve CU as an institution.”
Contact Campus Press staff writer James Collector at james.collector@thecampuspress.com.
