Terrifying footage has emerged of a 'sheet' of blood pouring down the front of a cruise ship elevator after it apparently crushed an electrician to death.

The electrician - named as Jose Sandoval Opazo, 66, by Miami Dade police - was working on the elevator on Sunday evening when the accident took place on board the Carnival Ecstasy.

A second person appears to have been inside the elevator, and had to run out through the pouring blood.

Horror: Passenger Matt Davis filmed the horrifying moment blood began pouring down the outside of an elevator on the Carnival Ecstacy cruise ship, which was on the final leg of a three day trip from Miami

Matt Davis, who took the film, described what he witnessed on the ship's 10th floor as the 'nightmare after Christmas'.

'To look and see the elevator with just blood coming down like a sheet, and not stopping... it was a real life scene of The Shining,' he told Fox 4.

Mr Davis, who had treated his wife Susan and their children to a last minute cruise, described the sound as something like 'rainfall'.

Someone can be heard speaking on the video, saying: 'No that can't be right... No.'

The Davis and the other passengers on the 850-foot-long cruise liner were on the final leg of a three-day cruise from Miami.

The exact cause of the accident is not known, but an investigation is underway.

Terror: Mr Davis (pictured) said the accident, which left electrician Jose Sandoval Opazo, 66, dead, was like something out of a horror film

From Ecstasy to agony: The horrifying incident took place on board the Carnival Ecstasy (file picture)

Carnival Cruises confirmed to MailOnline that Mr Opazo had died following the accident at 6.15pm eastern time.

A spokesman added: 'The company extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family and loved ones of our team member. Our CareTeam is providing support.