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Man had been drinking before fatal fall on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's Grand Classica: Autopsy

Posted at 9:42 AM, Jan 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-25 12:52:07-05

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An autopsy shows a man who died after falling on a cruise ship in October had been drinking and plummeted 45 feet (13 meters) down a stairwell.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner released its autopsy report for 29-year-old Christopher McGrory on Thursday.

McGrory was airlifted to a West Palm Beach hospital from the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's Grand Classica on Oct. 21.

The Palm Beach Post reports a nurse told investigators McGrory had been "drinking heavily" when he attempted to jump up a stair but lost his balance and fell backward. The autopsy showed his blood alcohol level was 0.256, about three times Florida's legal limit for declaring a driver impaired.

Brian McGrory of Palm City said his son had been celebrating his bachelor party on the cruise from Palm Beach to the Bahamas.