The bride told how she was “horribly” injured and swept into the sea with 20 other guests when glass panels collapsed in an infinity pool during their £11,000 Caribbean honeymoon. Jelizaveta Jones, 29, and her husband Gavin, from Colindale, “couldn’t breathe” as they were submerged under a torrent of water at the five-star Sandals Royal Curaçao. Mrs Jones suffered cuts and bruises to her head and leg in the incident, within hours of the couple’s arrival at the new 3,000-acre resort on Spanish Water Bay. Police on the Dutch Caribbean island said at least 12 people were injured when the walls of a sea-facing swimming pool collapsed on Thursday. Some were washed ashore by tons of water and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital. A female tourist was trapped under a glass panel but soon regained consciousness. Mrs Jones, also known as Elizabeth – a sales executive for a US software company – told the Standard: “It was horrible, there was no warning.
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“I was facing my husband and talking to him in the pool. Then I saw him go down first, then maybe five seconds later, I went. I was stuck underwater. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t breathe. Everything was happening very fast. I was trying to come up to the surface for some air, but the current was too strong. I couldn’t do anything. “After they washed me off I staggered to my feet with blood coming from my head and leg…horrific. Every time I close my eyes, I relive it.” Elizabeth Jones / ES Picture Desk Curaçao police say their initial investigation shows the glass broke because too many people were in the pool during a party, according to local media. Bar and nightclub manager Mr Jones, 44, added: “We were at the resort less than 24 hours and had a few drinks. I stood with my back to the sea and was chatting with my wife when one of the panels in the middle of the pool just disappeared. The weight of the water took me, Elizabeth and many other people and washed us about 30 meters down the beach.” He added: “I hit my head coming back and slipped. I looked at my wife and she was stunned. Blood was pouring from her head. He had cuts and had to get stitches.” The Joneses said hotel staff were very attentive afterwards, but claimed Sandals’ management was “really awful”. Other tourists complained that the company tried to downplay the incident, saying the pool “had a problem”. Mr Jones said he was told “accidents happen” and offered a credit note for future accommodation. The couple got married last August but were unable to honeymoon until now due to Covid and a family illness. A spokesperson for Sandals Resorts International said: “Thankfully, there were only a small number of guests in the pool… our resort team worked quickly to ensure everyone received immediate support and medical attention.”
