A Disney Cruise turned into a tense scene on Sunday afternoon when a 5-year-old girl fell overboard from the Disney Dream, and her father jumped in after her. Thankfully, both were rescued quickly thanks to the swift action of the ship’s crew.
Passenger Gar Frantz, who was on the fourth-floor deck, described the shocking moment:
“We watched it — you could see two little things. It was crazy, it was horrific.”
According to other witnesses, the girl had been sitting on the railing as her father took a photo before she slipped into the water. Moments later, he jumped in to save her.
Gail Merrick, another passenger, said she was playing bingo when she noticed the commotion and rushed to see what was happening:
“We came to find out that it was a child and then the father had gone in after the child. We were watching with bated breath, basically waiting for what would happen.”
The Disney Dream quickly turned around, and crew members launched a yellow rescue boat. Within minutes, both father and daughter were safely pulled from the water.
Crew Praised for Quick Response
Disney Cruise Line praised their staff for the rapid response, saying in a statement:
“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.”
The incident prompted cheers from passengers once the rescue was complete. James Tackett, a guest on board, recalled:
“When they did officially get the people, everyone cheered. It was a good moment.”
His mother, Brenda Tackett, heard the emergency announcement and saw the crew leap into action:
“You could tell they’ve practiced this. Hopefully, they’ve never used it before — but they were great. The whole thing was maybe 10, 15 minutes, and they safely got back on board.”
According to Veda Coleman-Wright of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, there was no indication of suspicious activity, though detectives are investigating the circumstances:
“Based on media reports I have read, the Disney crew was well prepared. Clearly, their training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue.”
Despite the scare, the cruise resumed as normal. Gail Merrick summed up the passengers’ relief:
“Thankfully it turned out positive, and we were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise.”