Girl who went overboard from Disney Cruise fell 'backward through a porthole,' sheriff’s investigation finds
(NEXSTAR) – A girl who went overboard from the Disney Dream cruise ship on Sunday had been sitting on a railing before “falling backward through a porthole” and into the ocean, according to a Florida sheriff’s office.
The Disney Dream ship was sailing from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday when the 5-year-old girl fell into the water, Nexstar’s WFLA previously reported. Her father jumped in after her, helping her stay afloat until a rescue boat could arrive, witnesses said.
Footage shared online by fellow passengers showed the two passengers amid the waves until crew members could recover them. They were both brought safely back to the boat.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) later determined that the girl had been sitting on a railing on the fourth deck of the ship when she lost her balance, “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 sheriff’s office wrote in a statement obtained by Nexstar. “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.”
BSO added that the man helped keep his daughter afloat for around 20 minutes. He also hurt himself during the ordeal, but officials with the department withheld details of the injury and the family’s identity for privacy reasons.
The father was treated at a hospital in the Fort Lauderdale area, the statement confirmed.
“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,” BSO wrote.
Both the sheriff’s office and a spokesperson for the Disney Cruise Line also commended the actions of the ship’s crew for aiding with the rescue of the two passengers.
“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols,” Disney Cruise Line previously told WFLA.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, BSO says. A representative for the Disney Cruise Line did not immediately respond to a request for comment on BSO’s initial findings.