Disney Dream
Share and Follow

(NEXSTAR) – A girl who went overboard from the Disney Dream cruise ship on Sunday had been sitting on a railing before “falling backward through a porthole” and into the ocean, according to a Florida sheriff’s office.

The Disney Dream ship was sailing from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday when the 5-year-old girl fell into the water, Nexstar’s WFLA previously reported. Her father jumped in after her, helping her stay afloat until a rescue boat could arrive, witnesses said.

Disney Dream
A girl who fell from the Disney Dream cruise ship on Sunday had been sitting on a railing on the fourth deck before falling into the ocean, according to a Florida sheriff’s office. (Getty Images)

Footage shared online by fellow passengers showed the two passengers amid the waves until crew members could recover them. They were both brought safely back to the boat.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) later determined that the girl had been sitting on a railing on the fourth deck of the ship when she lost her balance, “falling backward through a porthole.”

“After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement obtained by Nexstar. “BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship.”

BSO added that the man helped keep his daughter afloat for around 20 minutes. He also hurt himself during the ordeal, but officials with the department withheld details of the injury and the family’s identity for privacy reasons.

The father was treated at a hospital in the Fort Lauderdale area, the statement confirmed.

“This family is so blessed. It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome,” BSO wrote.

Both the sheriff’s office and a spokesperson for the Disney Cruise Line also commended the actions of the ship’s crew for aiding with the rescue of the two passengers.

“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols,” Disney Cruise Line previously told WFLA.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, BSO says. A representative for the Disney Cruise Line did not immediately respond to a request for comment on BSO’s initial findings.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Asian Markets Show Mixed Performance Amid Holiday Closures Leading Up to New Year

TOKYO – As the year draws to a close, major Asian stock…

Federal Grant of $8.7M Boosts RCSO Staffing and Enhances Community Policing Efforts

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. – In a significant development for local law enforcement,…

Port Canaveral Celebrates Six Consecutive Years as America’s Top Cruise Homeport

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – For the sixth consecutive year, Port Canaveral has…

Powerful EF-2 Tornado Strikes Long Creek with 120 MPH Winds

LONG CREEK, Ill. (WCIA) — A fierce storm on Sunday night left…

Billionaire David Hoffmann’s $50M Investment Boosts Financial Stability for Lee Enterprises

On Tuesday, Lee Enterprises revealed a strategic agreement with billionaire investor David…

Long Creek Residents Rally Together After Devastating Tornado Strikes

LONG CREEK, Ill. – Residents of Long Creek were met with a…

Pakistan’s Remarkable Achievement: Polio Cases Halve in 2025 Amidst Challenges

ISLAMABAD – In a promising sign for its polio eradication efforts, Pakistan…

Remembering Tatiana Schlossberg: Kennedy Legacy Continues as Granddaughter of John F. Kennedy Passes Away at 35

BOSTON – Tatiana Schlossberg, an esteemed environmental journalist and the granddaughter of…