We finally know how a 5-year-old girl fell from a Disney cruise ship
According to a newly released report from the Broward Sheriff's Office, the child had been climbing on a railing on the ship's fourth deck on June 29 when she lost her balance and fell backward through a porthole into the ocean. Her father, who hadn't seen the fall, jumped into the water moments later after her mother sounded the alarm.
The case drew intense public interest — and harsh online criticism — after rumors circulated that the father had placed the girl on the railing to take photos. But investigators now say those rumors were entirely false. The child climbed up on her own while her parents were nearby playing shuffleboard, and a strong gust of wind may have contributed to the fall, according to a witness on board.
'The girl's mother alerted her husband, who didn't see the incident, and he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter,' the sheriff's office confirmed, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Read more: Disney cruise dad jumps overboard after 5-year-old daughter falls into the ocean
Onlookers described a harrowing scene, with the mother screaming that her daughter was just five years old and couldn't swim. Her father, 37, leapt overboard and treaded water with his daughter for about 20 minutes before they were both rescued by the Disney Dream's onboard team.
Cruise officials say the crew responded within minutes and praised the team's quick thinking. 'We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship,' Disney Cruise Lines said in a statement.
The incident occurred while the ship was sailing between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale. The Disney Dream, one of the line's most luxurious vessels, can carry up to 4,000 passengers.
The girl and her father were both safely brought back on board, and the captain later addressed the passengers with an update.
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