A father’s quick and courageous actions saved the life of his 5-year-old daughter, who fell overboard from the Disney Dream cruise ship on Sunday, June 29, during its voyage between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale.
The incident occurred during the final leg of a four-day cruise. Without hesitation, the father jumped into the ocean after his daughter. According to eyewitnesses, he kept her afloat for over 10 minutes until help arrived.
“The captain slowed the ship and turned it around. Then a tender boat with a rescue team was launched, and we watched them pull both the father and daughter from the water,” said passenger Laura Amador in an interview with CBS News Miami.
The Disney Dream crew responded swiftly — issuing a ship-wide emergency alert, lowering a rescue boat, and deploying life-saving equipment. Initial reports suggest the child fell from Deck 4, a popular promenade area featuring deck chairs, a walking path, shuffleboard, and lifeboat muster stations.
The exact circumstances of the fall remain unclear.
In an official statement, Disney Cruise Line praised its crew for their professionalism:
“We thank our crew members for their exceptional skills and quick actions, which ensured both guests were safely brought back on board within minutes. The safety and well-being of our guests is our top priority, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
This successful rescue stands out as a rare outcome among overboard incidents in the cruise industry. According to CruiseJunkie.com, only two overboard cases have been reported by Disney out of 420 global incidents between 2000 and 2024 — with many resulting in fatalities.
The Disney Dream docked at Port Everglades on the morning of Monday, June 30.
