Disney Dream cruise accident: Five-year-old girl fell, father jumps after her, authorities clarify rumours
Authorities have now confirmed that a five-year-old girl fell overboard from the ship, sparking the emergency response.
According to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, the child lost her balance while sitting on a railing and fell backward through a porthole. The incident occurred around 11.30am on Sunday, with hundreds of passengers witnessing the chaos.
In video footage posted on Facebook by passenger Janice Martin-Asuque, who is believed to have witnessed the incident, a lifeboat can be seen floating in the choppy waters with people sitting inside.
Another angle of the rescue has been shared on TikTok, with the user describing the scene as a 'miracle'.
After the girl's mother alerted her husband, he jumped into the water to save their daughter. The sheriff confirmed the father did not put his daughter on the railing for a photo, debunking online rumours that had circulated in the days after the accident.
'The girl was sitting on the railing and fell backwards through a porthole, but her father didn't put her there,' Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
The Disney crew quickly launched a rescue boat and brought both father and daughter back on board within minutes. 'The Disney crew was well prepared. Clearly, their training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue,' the sheriff's office said.
Both the father and daughter were checked by the ship's medical staff and later transported to hospital, with the father reportedly treated for an unspecified injury.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances, but emphasise there is no suspicion of foul play.
Detectives have reviewed the ship's security video, which corroborates the family's account and statements from crew. The sheriff's office said personal details of the family are being withheld for privacy reasons, but confirmed they live out of state.
Disney Cruise Line commended its staff for their swift actions and highlighted the effectiveness of their safety protocols.
Passengers described the rescue as a 'miracle', with one eyewitness saying the mother screamed, 'she's five and can't swim' as the dramatic scene unfolded. Video footage posted to social media shows the moment the rescue boat reached the pair and brought them safely back to the ship.
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