Taime Downe’s fiancée has died. Kimberly Burch, who’s been engaged to the Faster Pussycat frontman since 2022, died after going overboard on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, TMZ reported. She was 56.
The pair had been traveling aboard the 80s-themed cruise, on which Faster Pussycat was scheduled to perform. Other artists signed on for the sailing include Squeeze, Adam Ant, Tiffany, and Men at Work.
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Per The Hollywood Reporter, Kimberly went overboard on March 3 at around 11 p.m.
“Squeeze was the band playing last night,” an anonymous passenger told the outlet. “There was an announcement over the PA saying someone went overboard so the ship was going to stop and turn around to try and locate the person.”
Meanwhile, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told TMZ that the incident happened roughly 20 miles away from Freeport, Bahamas. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter crew and others to help with search efforts, which were later suspended, per the outlet. Crews did not recover Kimberly’s body.
The anonymous passenger confirmed that reporting.
“[The] ship was stopped for a few hours,” the passenger said. “Safety boats were deployed with floodlights to illuminate the surrounding area.”
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson addressed the tragic situation in a statement to both outlets.
“Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said. “To respect the privacy of our guest’s family, we have no additional details to share.”
What Led to Kimberly Burch’s Death
Carnell Burch, Kimberly’s mother, told TMZ that her daughter fell to her death after a heated argument with the musician.
Carnell told the outlet that Taime called her with the tragic news. While it’s unclear if Kimberly jumped or fell from the ship, her mom said she’s “confident Kimberly wouldn’t purposefully hurt herself.”
Additionally, Kimberly’s mother noted that her daughter had been drinking on the cruise, which was out of character for her. Carnell said Kimberly had been excited about the trip.
The ship continued on its planned seven-day journey after the incident, THR reported.
“Eventually the ship powered up and off we went,” the anonymous passenger said. “This morning a PA announcement said that the US Coast Guard had taken over the search. We arrived at Nassau, Bahamas a few hours behind schedule. No excursions were canceled.”
Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
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