FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – New details have been revealed by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office involving a June 29 incident where a child fell overboard from a Disney cruise ship before being rescued by her father.
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According to BSO, on Sunday, around 11:30 a.m., a Disney Dream cruise ship was between the Bahamas and Port Everglades when a 5-year-old girl fell from deck 4 after losing her balance while sitting on a railing and falling 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 agency said.
Upon jumping in the water, the father, 37, was able to find his daughter and tread water until crews sent a rescue boat to bring them both back aboard the vessel.
“Once rescued, the father and daughter were checked out by the ship’s medical staff,” BSO said. “And after the ship arrived Monday morning at Port Everglades, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue transported them to an area hospital.”
Police say the father is in the hospital, and out of respect for the family’s privacy, will not release further details such as their names and place of residence.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, but BSO said its detectives have reviewed security footage and it aligns with information they’ve received from the family and cruise ship staff.
“This family is so blessed. It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome,” said BSO Public Information Officer Veda Coleman-Wright.
