RSS Feed
May 15th, 2013 
A couple who went overboard from a cruise ship off the NSW coast were arguing before disappearing.
Source: AAP
A COUPLE who went overboard from a cruise ship off the NSW coast were heard fighting from the cabin next door before they disappeared.
Paramedic Paul Rossington, 30, and his girlfriend Kristen Schroder, 27, were caught on CCTV falling from their balcony on the Carnival Spirit cruise ship about 8.50pm (AEST) on May 8, off Forster on the mid-north coast.
The couple had been holidaying with Ms Schroder’s family, and a relative was in the room next door and had heard the couple fighting earlier in the evening, a source told AAP on Wednesday.
“(The family member) could see the light coming from the room next door and shut the curtain,” the source, who asked not to be identified, said.
AAP contacted members of Ms Schroder’s family to verify the account but they did not respond.
AAP has been told the couple fought often, sometimes over insignificant issues, but would reconcile quickly.
Ms Schroder also made threats of self-harm in the past that were assumed not to be serious.
“She would say (to Mr Rossington) ‘if you leave me, I’m going to kill myself’,” the source said.
Her family did not become aware the couple were missing until after the ship berthed in Sydney’s Circular Quay on Thursday at 11.30am, AAP understands.
It was not until staff noticed the couple had not checked out and their belongings were still in their room that the family was asked about their whereabouts.
A Carnival Australia spokesman declined to comment.
CCTV recorded another argument between the couple in the ship’s casino earlier in the evening, a senior police source has said.
The dispute led them to skip dinner with Ms Schroder’s family.
They were later recorded in a corridor of the ship and appeared to have reconciled.
Subsequently, footage shows Ms Schroder climbing over the balcony railing and standing on the other side.
Mr Rossington was not visible when she went over, but he can be seen going overboard about 20 seconds later.
A person who knew him said it was in his nature to save people.
Another CCTV camera captured Ms Schroder striking a lifeboat before she went into the water.
Police called off the search two days later, after aircraft and boats had searched an area of 500 square nautical miles.
Ms Schroder’s family is planning a memorial service for her early next week in her home town in the state’s northwest.
The couple lived in Barraba, in the NSW New England region, where Mr Rossington worked as a paramedic.
A memorial service for Mr Rossington has not been announced.
Source Article from http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaunationalbreakingnewsndm/~3/5Xlmi_bG-b0/story01.htm
Views: 0
Posted in 
