The Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has provided further information regarding an incident this week where a five-year-old girl fell overboard during a Disney cruise with her family.
The incident involved the young girl and her 37-year-old father, who had to be rescued after both ended up in the water while vacationing on the Disney Dream ship, which was traveling from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale on June 29.
The father courageously jumped in after his daughter, managing to stay afloat until they were both rescued, and authorities have described them as ‘very lucky’ to have survived.
Initially, reports about the incident were unclear, leading to various rumors from those who claimed to have witnessed the event.
Local authorities have now clarified the situation, releasing more details about the moments leading to the girl’s fall from deck four of the cruise ship.
The investigation confirmed by onboard CCTV footage showed the girl was sitting on a railing and accidentally slipped backwards through a porthole into the ocean after losing her balance.
Her mother quickly informed the father, who dived into the water to rescue her.
The father and daughter managed to stay afloat for approximately 20 minutes until a rescue team reached them.
“This family is so blessed,” a brief statement read. “It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome.
“Based on media reports I have read, the Disney crew was well prepared. Clearly, their training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue.”
Disney also commented on the incident: “The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes.
“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Both the father and daughter received treatment on board the ship before being transported to a local hospital after returning to port.
The father was hospitalized, but officials have not disclosed the nature of the injuries he sustained during his heroic act.
In the event of someone going overboard, the first step is to issue a ‘man overboard’ alert to the bridge.
The bridge crew then announces ‘Code Oscar’ over the ship’s public address system to initiate rescue procedures.
The next step involves recording coordinates, as turning and stopping a large vessel safely takes time, making accurate location data – both the ship’s position and the deck or railing from which the person fell – critical to narrowing the search area.
The team then launches the search and provides support to the family involved.