MORE Details Released From Disney Dream Incident That Saw 5-Year-Old Girl Fall Overboard
A tragedy was narrowly avoided last week when a father and his five-year-old daughter were rescued after the child fell from the fourth deck of the Disney Dream.
The frightening incident occurred as the Disney Dream was returning to Fort Lauderdale after a four-night voyage to the Bahamas.
According to reports, the young girl fell from the ship’s fourth deck, prompting her father to immediately jump in after her. He ended up treading water for more than 10 minutes before rescue boats reached them.
Disney Rescue Personnel Jumped Into Action
Rescue personnel sprang into action immediately after the girl fell, responding to the emergency “Mr. M.O.B” (man overboard) alert that echoed through the ship.
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement.
Photo: Disney Cruise Line
“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. This incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Numerous Questions Remained
As word of the incident spread, many wondered how the child managed to fall off the Disney Dream’s deck. After all, the Disney Cruise Line vessel has a guard railing and plexiglass to keep incidents like this from happening.
Photo: Disney Cruise Line
Now, we finally have all the details.
How the Girl Fell
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, at 11:30 AM on Sunday, the 5-year-old girl lost her balance while sitting on a railing. Falling backwards through a porthole, the girl plummeted into the ocean.
USA Today
The girl’s mother then alerted her husband. He jumped into the ocean after her. After finding his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by Disney Cruise Line personnel.
Photo: USA Today
“The crew’s ‘man overboard’ training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue. BSO investigators said the total time from the child’s accidental fall to the rescue was about 20 minutes,” the sheriff’s office reported.
The Father Was Taken to the Hospital
After being rescued, both father and daughter were examined by the Disney Dream’s medical staff.
When the ship arrived at Port Everglades on Monday, the father was taken to a local hospital.
To protect the family’s privacy, their names and injuries are being withheld. Thankfully, however, it sounds like everyone will be ok.
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