58-year-old volunteer dies after falling off historic ship in Galveston, police say

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GALVESTON – A woman was pronounced dead after officials say she fell about 35 feet off the top of a ship in Galveston.

The incident happened right after 12 p.m. Saturday at Pier 22. Initial information from officials suggested the woman had fallen 60 feet down, however, investigators determined it was a shorter distance.

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According to Port of Galveston Police Chief Kenneth Brown, the woman, who was a volunteer at the site, was wearing a safety harness when she fell off the historic tall ship, The Elissa, however, she was not exactly tethered to the ship.

Brown says the 58-year-old’s death was a “horrible accident.”

“It’s an accident,” Brown said. “There’s no foul play. [Just] a tragic accident.”

The victim has yet to be identified, but officials said she was from the Clear Lake area.


About the Author

Moriah Ballard joined the KPRC 2 digital team in the fall of 2021. Prior to becoming a digital content producer in Southeast Texas and a Houstonian, Moriah was an award-winning radio host in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, and previously worked as a producer/content creator in Cleveland. Her faith, family, and community are her top passions.

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