Autopsy reveals chilling new clues in death of Royal Caribbean passenger who was ‘served 33 drinks’

A Royal Caribbean passenger’s heart stopped nearly three hours after security guards piled on top of him during a drunken rampage caught on video.

Passenger Michael Virgil’s cause of death was ruled a homicide caused by the ‘use of force by others’ that directly contributed to his inability to breathe and his heart stopping suddenly, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail.

Virgil was caught on camera in a drunken meltdown while on board the Navigator of the Seas in December 2024. The ship had departed San Pedro for a three-day trip to Ensenada, Mexico.

Attorneys for Virgil’s family, who filed a wrongful death suit last week in Florida against Royal Caribbean, allege ship staff served the 35-year-old father 33 drinks over a seven-hour period, causing him to become confused and agitated as he searched for his cabin.

The lawsuit claims the Royal Caribbean crew ‘negligently’ over-served Virgil even though he was visibly intoxicated.

‘The first domino that fell in terms of causing his death was mechanical asphyxiation, and that is where approximately five, maybe more, Royal Caribbean employees were trying to restrain him by putting their full body weight on him,’ attorney Kevin Haynes told the Daily Mail. ‘And they did that for three minutes.’

‘Everyone remembers that very tragic story with George Floyd, and this is similar in the sense that they suppressed someone against their will, restrained him and caused him to stop being able to breathe.’

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Michael Virgil, 35, was on board the Royal Caribbean ship with his family in December 2024 for what was supposed to be a three-day trip from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico

The lawsuit, filed by the Texas-based firm Kherkher Garcia, LLP, claims the cruise line deliberately markets its ‘all you can drink’ beverage packages and ensures every nook and cranny of the ship contains bars.

Haynes said Royal Caribbean staff had the right to refuse service to anyone who was visibly intoxicated but failed to do so, allegedly leading to Virgil’s death.

In a statement to CBS News, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, ‘We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting further on pending litigation.’

Virgil boarded the Navigator of the Seas on December 13, 2024. While waiting for their cabin, he decided to relax at one of the ship’s bars, Haynes told the Daily Mail.

Ship receipts showed 33 drinks were served to Virgil over seven hours, the lawyer said. It is unclear if he consumed all 33.

Haynes said they have requested video footage from Royal Caribbean, but the company has refused to release it.

Video recorded by another passenger showed a visibly drunk and shirtless Virgil punching cabin walls as he searched for his room.

‘His behavior was out of character for him,’ Haynes said. ‘He was scared and acting out of fear. Whatever Michael may have done during that stressful time, fueled by alcohol, it shouldn’t have given him a death sentence.’

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Virgil, of Moreno Valley, California was on a trip with his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, their son and other family members

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According to the lawsuit filed by Michael Virgil’s family, the 35-year-old was allegedly served 33 drinks while onboard the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Sea cruise ship

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An autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail showed the cruise ship doctor pronounced Virgil dead about two and a half hours after the altercation with Royal Caribbean security

An autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail showed the cruise ship doctor pronounced Virgil dead about two and a half hours after the altercation with security.

Virgil’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.182 to 0.186 percent, roughly double California’s legal driving limit.

‘While not lethal on its own, this level of intoxication can depress respiratory drive, impair coordination and diminish the individual’s ability to respond to distress during restraint,’ the report said.

However, Los Angeles legal analyst Lou Shapiro said the forensic evidence does not support the theory he consumed all 33 drinks, estimating instead six to eight.

According to the autopsy, body compression lasted about three minutes before Virgil was handcuffed and placed on his side or back. He was still breathing when moved to the ship’s medical bay.

Haynes said Aguilar learned of the incident only when her name was called over the ship’s intercom.

When she arrived, she saw Virgil on a gurney with zip ties on his wrists.

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A snapshot from a video showed Virgil kicking a cabin door

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The lawsuit filed by Virgil’s family claims four or five security guards placed their full weight on Virgil during the incident

‘They assured her, “Everything’s going to be fine, we’re going to give him a sedating injection, just go back to your cabin,”‘ Haynes said. ‘The next phone call she gets, he’s dead.’

Medical records show staff injected Virgil with haloperidol and succinylcholine, a sedative and a muscle relaxer, and used three cans of pepper spray to subdue him, according to the autopsy.

The report found no drugs in his system. It also noted several contributing factors: multiple people compressing his body, an enlarged heart, obesity and an adrenaline surge during the struggle.

The ship was more than three miles offshore when Virgil was pronounced dead at 8:32 pm.

A devastated Aguilar, caring for their autistic son, asked staff to return the ship to Long Beach. ‘They would not do it,’ Haynes said. ‘They put Michael in a refrigerator and continued the cruise for multiple days.’

Royal Caribbean faces another lawsuit involving alcohol and the death of 66-year-old Dulcie White, who went overboard during a Taylor Swift-themed cruise in October 2024.

Haynes said Virgil’s family hopes the lawsuit forces the cruise industry to overhaul training and safety protocols.