Disney Dream Dad Did NOT Put Daughter on Railing for Photo, Sheriff Confirms

In a story that almost broke the internet over the weekend, rumors quickly spread like wildfire. The dramatic events of a father jumping off a cruise ship to save his daughter that had just fallen into the water prompted all kinds of comments from the cruise community.

After all, this story was unique in so many ways and pulled at the heart strings of any parent.

But one major claim about the story, widely circulated on social media, has been officially debunked by authorities.

Initial reports came from other passengers on the ship and eyewitness accounts from crew members.

Social media rumors added even more confusion, incorrectly claiming that a father placed his 5-year-old daughter on the ship’s railing for a family picture before she fell overboard on Disney Dream.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office has now confirmed that their investigation, including a review of ship security video, shows the girl was not put on the railing by her father for a picture.

What Really Happened

Instead, the Sheriff’s Office stated that the young girl lost her balance while sitting on a railing and fell backward through a porthole.

This new information changes the narrative entirely, moving it from potential negligence to a parent’s immediate and heroic response in what must have been a terrifying moment.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025, on Deck 4 of the Disney Dream, while the ship was in international waters between The Bahamas and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

One passenger reported speaking with a crew member who witnessed the event and indicated the girl was climbing near the railing while her parents were nearby, possibly playing shuffleboard.

While the Sheriff’s Office has not shed further light on the exact design of the railing that allowed access, their investigation confirmed the girl’s fall. Security footage from the ship corroborated the statements from the family and cruise ship staff.

A Father’s Heroic Act

The dramatic events began when the young girl went overboard, falling an estimated 45 feet. Her mother immediately alerted her husband, the 37-year-old father, who had not seen the incident unfold. Without hesitation, he jumped into the ocean after his daughter.

Reports indicate he spent approximately 20 minutes treading water, working tirelessly to keep his daughter’s head above water until rescue teams could reach them.

“After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter. BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship,” the Sheriff’s office wrote in a statement.

Successful Rescue

Both father and daughter were rescued by the quick-acting Disney Dream crew, who launched a rescue boat and deployed life preservers.

The father was later transported to a hospital for an unspecified injury following the ordeal. The successful rescue of both passengers is a rare and remarkable outcome in overboard incidents.

A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson stated, “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.”

A TikTok video showed the girl wrapped in a towel and being held by a rescuer while the father was seen completely out of breath due to the ordeal.

Rumors Spread Fast

This story really highlights how in an age of rapid information, sometimes that information isn’t as reliable as we would hope. Initial, false reports caused a lot of public confusion and unfairly cast the father in a negative light.

Rumors can spread quickly, and unfortunately, they often spread faster when they paint someone in a more negative light.

For the family’s continued privacy, authorities are not releasing their names or further details of the father’s injury.