Man rescues child after going overboard on Disney Cruise ship: reports

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) – A man and child were rescued from the ocean after going overboard on a Disney Cruise Line voyage, passengers reported on social media.

The Disney Dream ship was sailing from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday when the child fell into the water for an unknown reason, according to witnesses who watched the rescue.

Fellow passengers said a man they assumed to be her father jumped into the water after her, as first reported by The Street.

"This man jumped in after her and helped her stay afloat for at least 20 minutes while the rescue team pulled off a rescue I will never forget," one passenger wrote on TikTok, in a post including footage of a rescue boat approaching the two passengers treading water in the ocean.

"Honestly while praying for the best, I was not expecting them to find them," wrote a separate passenger, who also filmed part of the rescue. "Tiny dots left behind in a massive ocean."

Another video, taken after the rescue boat was safely back at the ship, showed a woman cradling what appeared to be a young child.

"The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a spokesperson for the Disney Cruise Line wrote in an emailed statement to Nexstar's WFLA. "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."

Disney did not disclose how the child fell or whether she was injured. Onlookers — and those commenting on the videos — were just relieved she was able to return to the ship.

"I’m so thankful both the man and little girl are safe," one passenger said. "And for anyone who wants to judge how something like this happens, it can happen in the blink of an eye."