On Sunday afternoon, chaos erupted after the girl fell while her father was taking her picture against the rail. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the quick-thinking father leaped into the water, where both he and his daughter managed to stay afloat for approximately ten minutes before a rescue boat could reach them.
Passengers on board reported feeling a moment of panic, with Laura Amador recalling how quickly the ship appeared to distance itself from the two: “It was crazy how quickly the people became tiny dots in the sea.” The captain of the Disney Dream swiftly slowed the vessel and initiated protocols to aid the recovery effort.
Disney confirmed the rescue, stating that two guests were successfully retrieved from the water and commending its crew for their efficient response. “The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” said a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson.
Passersby could only watch in horror as the father and daughter seemed to vanish into the distance. Gar Frantz, another witness, remarked on the surreal nature of the situation, stressing how swiftly the rescue unfolded.
Despite the overboard incident occurring on the cruise's concluding day, the Disney Dream returned to Fort Lauderdale as planned, with the passengers safe. Though falls from cruise ships are uncommon, successful rescues are even rarer, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association, which indicated that of the 25 falls from cruise ships in 2019, only nine were retrieved safely.
