A scary moment turned into a miracle on June 29 when a young girl fell into the ocean from a Disney cruise ship and her father immediately jumped in to save her.
Thankfully, both the father and child were safely rescued by the ship’s crew.
The incident happened while the Disney Dream was sailing back to Port Everglades from the Bahamas. Passengers heard an urgent announcement, “Mr. M.O.B. portside,” which means “man overboard.” People on the ship watched as the crew slowed down the ship and threw life preservers into the water.
Posts on Reddit from people on the ship confirmed that a child fell from Deck 4, which features a walking/jogging track.
Some initial reports are stating that the father had placed the child on the railing to take a picture, but we are still gathering information before these reports can be substantiated.
One comment on social media stated, “From bystanders he was holding her on the railing they were taking pictures.”
After the child fell into the water, her father didn’t hesitate and jumped in right after her. Many comments on Reddit called the rescue “like winning the lottery twice in a row,” amazed that everyone was okay.
One passenger, Dewayne Smith, shared on Facebook:
“We are on the Disney Dream at sea today and 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.”
What made the rescue even more incredible is that the ship was “Fully moving! Halfway between Bahamas and Ft Lauderdale.” This means the crew had to work fast. It’s not as easy as many people think to find someone who has fallen into the ocean from a ship on the move.
Another comment from a passenger on board Disney Dream said the ship was “barely moving”, so the exact speed of the ship at the time of the incident is still in question.
One passenger shared that about 10 minutes after the alarm, a lifeboat was sent out. The brave father, who had been treading water for about 20 minutes, and his daughter were found by the lifeboat within just 3 to 5 minutes.
People online also talked about how surprising it was for a child to fall overboard, given how safe Disney’s ships are designed with high railings and glass barriers.
However, the successful rescue is a testament to the crew’s constant emergency training, in addition to a father’s resilience.
Disney released the following statement regarding this recent incident:
“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.”