A father dove into the ocean to rescue his daughter after she fell from the fourth deck of a 14-deck Disney Cruise ship on Sunday afternoon, according to eyewitness accounts.
The dramatic scene unfolded aboard the Disney Dream as the ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a four-day voyage around the Bahamas.
Witnesses say the child fell overboard while her father was taking her photo near a railing. Without hesitation, the father jumped in after her. A “man overboard” alert was quickly announced, prompting the ship’s crew to respond.
Videos posted on social media captured the moment both were rescued by a tender boat after treading water for about 10 minutes. Passengers can be heard cheering as the pair were brought back on board safely.
“The ship was moving so fast—it was terrifying how quickly they became tiny dots in the water,” said passenger Laura Amador. “The captain turned the ship around, and we watched a rescue boat go out and bring them back.”
Another passenger, Gar Frantz, described the moment to NBC News: “We saw two small figures in the water—it was horrifying.”
The Disney Dream, which carries up to 4,000 passengers, completed its scheduled return to port without further incident.
In a brief statement, Disney Cruise Line confirmed the successful rescue.
“The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a spokesperson said. “We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and quick actions, which ensured both guests were safely brought back aboard within minutes.”
Falls from cruise ships are rare and often fatal. A 2019 report by the Cruise Lines International Association noted that 25 passengers fell overboard that year, but only nine survived.
