Kirsten Lindsey, a 28-year-old woman from Louisiana, sustained a catastrophic genital injury on the third day of her cruise trip during a shore excursion in Honduras involving a rope swing [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The injury occurred when a rope, believed to be part of a malfunctioning pulley system, suddenly tightened between her legs while she was swinging, causing severe trauma [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Initially, Lindsey thought the injury was just a minor abrasion. However, she soon developed intense pain and swelling the size of a grapefruit that left her unable to walk and dependent on a wheelchair [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Her boyfriend, Blake Ford, explained that the rope or sling device had not been properly fixed, which led to the rope suddenly tightening and causing the unusual severity of the injury [1].
Lindsey was treated in the onboard medical center for approximately 26 hours, but her condition worsened despite care [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The swelling increased, and respiratory distress developed due to the strong painkillers administered; medical staff had to keep her awake to prevent her from stopping breathing after falling asleep [1, 2, 3, 5].
After assessing her deteriorating state, the decision was made to arrange a private medical evacuation. Lindsey was flown from the nearest airport in Costa Maya, Mexico, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for emergency medical treatment [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The evacuation cost totaled about $50,000, paid in two installments—a $20,000 deposit before the flight and $30,000 upon arrival in the US [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Following arrival, Lindsey underwent two surgeries due to the injury’s severity and complications. She was treated initially in Florida and then transported by road to Louisiana for further care [1, 2, 3, 5]. Ford said the doctors found Lindsey’s injuries "special and severe" but noted they were working hard to avoid permanent damage [3].
The cruise company stated it holds no liability because the shore excursion was operated by independent contractors, as set out in their terms [4]. Meanwhile, Lindsey’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the medical and evacuation costs. Ford said, "We really have no extra money left!" [1, 2, 3, 5].
