Passengers on the Disney Dream cruise ship experienced a frightening event when a young girl fell into the open sea from the ship’s fourth deck. Those on board have shared the chilling sounds they heard as the dramatic situation unfolded.
A passenger who witnessed the rescue described a “commotion” during the incident. This individual captured the event and shared it on TikTok under the username Chandler Sphynx.
‘Then there this awful scream from what I assume is the mother, and then this massive splash,’ she told People.
‘It sounded like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool. It was so loud.’
The urgent announcement, ‘MOB port side,’ indicating Man Overboard, reverberated through the ship’s speakers, prompting passengers to swiftly gather at the railings to understand the unfolding situation.
Witnesses say the little girl plunged from the fourth deck of the ship into the Atlantic, followed moments later by her father, who jumped in to try to save her.
‘I didn’t think they’d film them. The splash when he went in was SO loud,’ Chandler wrote online.
The drama unfolded on Sunday morning as the 130,000-ton vessel made its way back to Fort Lauderdale from Disney’s Lookout Cay at around 11:15am.
A father and daughter were rescued from the ocean 20 minutes after the girl fell over the side of the Disney Dream cruise ship. Her desperate father jumped in after her
Shocked passengers watched in horror as a young girl tumbled from a Disney cruise ship into the open Atlantic Ocean on Sunday morning triggering a frantic rescue effort
Within minutes, Disney’s crew launched a bright yellow rescue vessel, with four crew members rushing toward the father and daughter struggling to stay afloat in the choppy Atlantic waters.
Video showed the pair floating in the ocean as several flotation devices including life jackets and rings were thrown overboard.
Cheers erupted from passengers watching on balconies as the rescue team pulled the two from the sea after about 20 minutes.
Disney Cruise Line confirmed in a statement that both guests were returned to the ship safely and praised the quick action of the crew.
‘The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,’ it read. ‘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 addressed passengers afterward, confirming the rescue and reminding guests to follow safety protocols for the remainder of the trip.
Passengers were left shaken by the ordeal, which happened as the Disney Dream was between Nassau and Grand Bahama Island.
Chandler, who watched with her own nine-year-old daughter, told People she feared the worst as she saw the rescue efforts unfold.
A wave of relief spread through the ship as it became clear both dad and daughter were safe
‘I had to tell my daughter they were probably gone because they usually can’t find people who fall,’ she said. ‘I didn’t think they’d find them.’
Incredibly, the father managed to keep his daughter’s head above water while the ship maneuvered to help and the rescue boat was launched.
The ship, with a top speed of 25mph, was still moving at sea, adding to the drama.
It left the father and daughter some distance away from the cruise ship by the time rescuers were able to reach them.
The pair were finally lifted from the water at about 11:47am, according to witnesses.
Social media videos showed the dramatic moment they were brought aboard the rescue boat, with a wave of applause breaking out among relieved guests.
‘It was so intense to watch,’ recalled one passenger, Janice Martin-Asuque, in a Facebook post.
‘Didn’t even know a cruise ship could do a 180 degree turn that quick,’ added fellow passenger Nick Young.
The terrifying moment unfolded aboard the Disney Dream as the ship was sailing back to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas (file photo)
Questions remain about how the child managed to fall from an area with protective plexiglass barriers.
Deck 4, where the fall occurred, includes a jogging track and viewing areas that are usually considered secure.
The Disney Dream entered service in 2010 and underwent a major refurbishment last year with strong safety protocols.
Disney officials say they will also review security footage to try and understand what went wrong and prevent something similar from happening in the future.
