Passengers aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship have shared chilling firsthand accounts of the moment a father jumped overboard to rescue his young daughter after she fell from the ship into the Atlantic Ocean.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 29, unfolded during the ship’s return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a four-night Bahamian cruise.
'Awful Scream' and 'Massive Splash' as Girl Fell From Deck
“There was some kind of commotion,” recalled a passenger named Chandler, speaking to PEOPLE. “Then this awful scream from what I assume is the mother and then this massive splash.”
Chandler described the sound as “like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool, it was so loud.”
Witnesses say the child fell from the fourth deck of the ship, which features a jogging track lined with plexiglass safety barriers, before her father made a split-second decision to leap in after her, determined to keep her head above water.
Frantic Rescue Operation Captured on Video
Within minutes, Disney’s crew launched a bright yellow rescue boat into the ocean as passengers gathered at the railings, anxiously watching the dramatic scene unfold.
Chandler, who documented the rescue on TikTok, said the emergency announcement “MOB [Man Overboard] port side” echoed across the ship.
Three additional flotation devices were thrown into the water, and the crew swiftly maneuvered to reach the father and daughter, who had been struggling to stay afloat for nearly 20 minutes.
Cheers erupted from passengers as the pair were pulled from the water and brought aboard the rescue vessel. Video footage shows the emotional moment passengers applauded the crew’s successful rescue.
Chandler - who watched the incident with her own 9-year-old daughter - shared: “I had to tell my own 9-year-old daughter Harper they were probably gone [because] they usually can’t find people who fall,” expressing relief when they were safely returned to the ship. “I didn’t think they’d find them.”
Disney Commends Crew for Swift Action
Disney Cruise Line praised its crew’s rapid response, stating: “The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water.
"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 captain later addressed passengers, confirming the rescue and reminding everyone to follow safety protocols for the remainder of the trip, the Daily Mail reports.
Another passenger, Dewayne Smith, wrote on Facebook: “We are on the Disney Dream at sea today and just witnessed a first on a cruise. A little girl fell overboard and her dad jumped overboard to try to save her. Man overboard calls went up immediately. The Disney crew went into action asap. Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were both successfully rescued!”
Passenger Janice Martin-Asuque described the emotional moment, saying: “It was so intense to watch,” while noting the collective relief that swept across the ship when the father and daughter were safely brought aboard the rescue vessel.
While another passenger, Nick Young, noted on Facebook: “Didn’t even know a cruise ship could do a 180-degree turn that quick.”
“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 added in its statement.
Questions still remain about how the child was able to fall from Deck 4, an area designed with safety in mind. Disney officials are reportedly reviewing security footage to determine the cause of the fall and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Disney Dream resumed its journey to Port Everglades, Florida, with the father and daughter safely on board. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the incident left passengers shaken.
Overboard incidents on cruise ships are rare but often fatal. A 2022 report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cited by Newsweek, found that around 20 to 25 overboard incidents occur annually among 25 million passengers, equating to about one incident per million cruisers.
Between 2009 and 2019, 212 people reportedly went overboard, with only 48 rescued, suggesting a survival rate of 28.2%
The Disney Dream, which launched in 2011 and underwent refurbishment in 2024, is equipped with overboard detection systems that can alert the crew in real-time, aiding in rapid emergency responses.