A father heroically leapt into the ocean after his daughter fell from the fourth deck of a Disney cruise ship on Sunday afternoon, with both later rescued in a dramatic operation witnessed by passengers.
The incident occurred aboard the Disney Dream as it was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a four-day voyage around the Bahamas. Witnesses say the young girl slipped and fell overboard while her father was taking a photo of her near a railing. Without hesitation, he jumped in after her.
The pair reportedly spent about 10 minutes treading water before being safely brought back aboard.
Gar Frantz, a passenger, told NBC News: “We watched it, you could see two little things…it was crazy, it was horrific.”
Disney Cruise Line confirmed the incident in a statement: “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.”
Though rare, overboard incidents on cruise ships often end in tragedy. According to a 2019 Cruise Lines International Association report, only nine of 25 people who fell overboard that year were rescued.
The ship docked as scheduled, and no further details have been released about the identities of the father and daughter.
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