Broward County Sheriff’s Office stated that the incident happened on June 29 around 11:30 a.m. while the ship was returning from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale.
According to a press release, the 5-year-old girl lost her balance while sitting on a railing on Deck 4, causing her to fall 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 release stated.
Investigators reported that the 37-year-old father was able to keep himself and his daughter afloat until a tender boat was launched from the ship to rescue them. The entire rescue operation took approximately 20 minutes.
The father was subsequently hospitalized once the Disney Dream docked at Port Everglades early Monday morning, officials said.
“The family resides out of state,” the statement added. “To respect their privacy, detectives are withholding their names, location, and details regarding the father’s medical condition.”
Additionally, the sheriff’s office confirmed that detectives reviewed the ship’s security footage, which matches the accounts given by the family and crew members.
Speculation had been rife on social media about how the young child could have fallen overboard.
Though the precise circumstances of the girl's falling overboard remain under investigation, it appears she fell backward through a porthole into the ocean.
The accident happened on the final day of the Disney Dream’s four-night “Bahamian Cruise,” which traveled from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera, before returning early Monday morning.
A fellow passenger shared the harrowing moment on social media, saying: “We just witnessed a first on a cruise. A little girl fell overboard and her dad jumped overboard to try to save her. Man overboard calls went up immediately. The Disney crew went into action asap. Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were both successfully rescued!”
A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson confirmed the swift and skilled response of their crew to NTD, stating, “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.”