Please stay in the Loop with Our Free Cruise Newsletter: Uncover the Latest News and Exclusive Deals: Sign Up
Officials have helped put rumours to rest and have disclosed how a young Disney Cruise Line passenger, aged 5, plunged off the vessel after her courageous father saved her in the open sea and have addressed the circulating rumors directly.
The young girl, was aboard the Disney Dream in international waters, when she slipped through the ship’s porthole and into the ocean below. This clarification was provided by authorities, disputing claims that her father was to blame for the frightening drop.
While her parents enjoyed a game of shuffleboard nearby around 11:30 a.m. on June 29, the little girl was sitting on a railing on the fourth-floor deck of the ship. Suddenly, she toppled backward, through the porthole and into the open sea, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office communicated on Wednesday, as reported by CBS Miami.
The girl’s 37-year-old father did not witness the fall but was alerted by her mother. He plunged into the water and retrieved his daughter, and they both stayed afloat for about 20 minutes until the ship’s rescue teams arrived.
Authorities released preliminary details to counter online rumors suggesting that the heroic father was holding her over the railing during the incident or the family was taking a photo together. Security footage from the ship and crew members who witnessed the fall supported the family’s account of the terrifying event.
Family Blessed
“This family is so blessed,” the sheriff’s office said. “It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome.”
The ship was navigating between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale when the captain announced “Mr. Mop Portside,” a call to the crew indicating a possible man overboard on the left side of the vessel.
The fourth deck, where the girl and her family were situated when she fell, is less populated compared to the other decks and features shuffleboard courts, according to one passenger’s comment to CBS Miami.
A safety barrier is in place on the deck, although there are “small indentations and gaps that could allow someone to climb,” remarked passenger Monica Shannon to the local news outlet.
It remains unclear why the porthole was open or how the young girl managed to slip through it.
Authorities praised the quick response of the rescue crew for saving both individuals.
“Based on the reports I have read, the Disney crew was well-prepared. Their training and readiness clearly paid off, as they successfully executed an ocean rescue,” stated the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream rapidly rescued two guests from the water. We congratulate our Crew Members for their remarkable skills and swift actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes. We are dedicated to the safety and welfare of our guests, and this incident underscores the effectiveness of our safety protocols,” Disney communicated in a statement.
Both the father and daughter received treatment on the ship before being transported to a local hospital upon returning to port. The father was eventually hospitalized, though officials did not disclose the nature of the injuries he sustained during his heroic rescue.