A two-year-old child was taken to hospital after falling aboard the cruise ship Mein Schiff 7 while it was docked in Funchal on 22nd April 2026, prompting an emergency response from local medical teams.
According to Portuguese media reports, the child fell from a height estimated to be between 6 and 10 feet while the vessel was alongside in port. Emergency responders arrived to find the child conscious and already receiving care from the ship’s onboard medical team, with his mother by his side.
Madeira’s Integrated Medical Emergency System dispatched its Rapid Intervention Medical Team, known as EMIR, along with an ambulance directly to the ship. After an initial assessment onboard, the child was transferred ashore and taken to Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital for further checks.
Cruise line TUI Cruises later confirmed the incident, stating the injuries were not serious.
“We can confirm an incident on Mein Schiff 7 in Madeira involving a child. However, the child was never in a critical condition, nor did it have life-threatening injuries. It was in hospital for routine observation, though the child is in good condition and with family members,”
Portuguese port authority APRAM also confirmed the incident occurred while the ship was docked, adding that it took place within the vessel itself.
Investigation Ongoing Into Cause Of Fall
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall. While there has been some speculation that the child may have fallen from a balcony, this has not been officially confirmed.
The incident occurred during a seven-night itinerary that began in Gran Canaria on 20th April 2026. After a day at sea, the ship arrived in Funchal at 7am on 22nd April for an overnight stay. The situation did not affect the vessel’s schedule, with departure planned for 23rd April.
The 3,984-passenger ship, which entered service in June 2024, is scheduled to continue its voyage with calls to ports including Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tenerife and Fuerteventura before returning to Gran Canaria on 27th April.
Previous Incidents Across The Fleet
While rare, this is not the first serious incident involving ships operated by TUI Cruises.
On 14th October 2022, a passenger died after falling from a balcony aboard Mein Schiff 6 during a voyage in the Aegean Sea. Reports indicated the individual fell multiple decks from Deck 10 onto a lifeboat area below.
More recently, in November 2025, a 76-year-old passenger was reported missing after going overboard from Marella Explorer 2 near the Canary Islands. A search operation was launched by Spanish authorities, but the individual was not found.
Investigations into the latest incident in Madeira remain ongoing, though early indications suggest the child is recovering well following the fall.
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