Fort Lauderdale: A five-year-old girl fell overboard from the fourth deck of the Disney Dream cruise ship on Saturday morning, prompting a swift and heroic response from her father, who jumped into the ocean to rescue her. The ship was en route from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale when the incident occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, the child fell into the water around 11:15 a.m. while the ship was sailing in open sea. Without hesitation, the father dove into the ocean after her. Moments later, the ship’s “Man Overboard” alarm was sounded, triggering emergency protocols on board.
Watch the video here:
NEW: Father jumps overboard to save his 5-year-old daughter, who fell off a Disney cruise ship from the 4th deck into the ocean.
The ship was heading back to South Florida when the intense rescue was made.
“The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it’s crazy how quickly the… pic.twitter.com/PTGmAzZJ7O
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 30, 2025
Passengers described hearing a loud splash followed by screaming, believed to be from the girl’s mother. Crew members quickly responded by alerting the bridge and launching a rescue operation. The ship reversed course, and a rescue boat was dispatched within minutes.
Both the child and her father were spotted in the water and were kept in sight by crew using visual markers and communication from the deck. They remained in the water for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before being pulled aboard the rescue vessel and brought back to the ship.
Witnesses onboard said the scene was emotional, with fellow passengers cheering and applauding as the pair was brought back safely. Some described seeing the father raise his hand in a reassuring gesture once they were rescued.
Disney Cruise Line issued a statement thanking its crew for their swift response and confirming that both guests were safely recovered. “Our onboard team responded immediately and rescued the guests within minutes,” the statement said. “We are proud of our crew’s quick and effective action.”
The incident is now under investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard and authorities in Florida. Preliminary reports suggest the girl may have slipped while sitting on or near the ship’s railing. No foul play is suspected.
Man-overboard incidents on cruise ships remain rare. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, 212 such cases were reported globally between 2009 and 2019.
Both the father and daughter were reported to be in stable condition and continued their journey with the cruise.
