A volunteer from Nassau Bay died on February 5 after she fell 35 feet from a mast aboard the 1877 historic tall ship Elissa in Galveston.
Jill Hickman Victor, 58, was working on the ship at the dock around noon, along with other volunteers, when she fell to her death.
Galveston Police Chief Kenneth Brown confirmed that Hickman was wearing a safety harness, but it was not attached to the ship.
No alcohol, drugs, or foul play are suspected to have played a role in her death.
One of Victor’s best friends, who goes by Susie, described her friend’s love for helping to KHOU News. “We believe she died doing what she loved the best — volunteering on the Elissa. She absolutely loved it and loved that crew. I know they’re going to miss her dearly.”
The Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) board released a statement about her death on its website: “Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) board, staff, and the volunteer crew of ELISSA are saddened at the loss of a fellow volunteer and staff member. The accident is still under investigation by authorities, and GHF is conducting its own internal review. ELISSA is a crew of dedicated men and women who operate the ship with passion and dedication. We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family and friends.”
Susie also expressed her gratitude to the foundation for allowing her friend to volunteer. “We want to give a shout to the Elissa crew for teaching her and allowing her to climb and fulfill that dream,” she said.
GHF originally purchased Elissa in 1970 from a Greek scrapyard, completing its reconstruction in 1982. The ship is the Official Tall Ship of Texas and is a National Historic Landmark. Elissa is one of only three of its kind in the world that actively sails.
Per its website, over the last 50 years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, public education, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, and stewardship of historic properties.
