A family vacation aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream took a tragic turn when a 5-year-old girl fell from the ship’s deck after her mother encouraged her to pose near an open porthole. The incident occurred on June 29 at approximately 11:30 a.m., as the ship was navigating international waters between the Bahamas and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
The family had been enjoying a stroll on Deck 4, a spot designed with large decorative cutouts that mimic the ship’s portholes, when they paused to take a photograph of their daughter. As detailed in an incident report acquired by Fox News Digital, the mother allegedly gestured towards the porthole railing, prompting the young girl to climb up and sit. Tragically, she lost her balance and tumbled backward into the ocean.
The fall from Deck 4 was a harrowing 49 feet down to the ocean’s surface. Upon realizing what had happened, the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who had not witnessed the fall. In a desperate attempt to rescue his daughter, he immediately plunged into the water.
Details of the investigation reveal that the girl was precariously perched on the railing near the porthole when she slipped and fell into the sea. The event, reported by WOFL-TV/Fox 35, underscores the unforeseen dangers that can arise even during seemingly innocuous family moments.
Investigators said the child was sitting on a railing near a porthole when she fell backward into the ocean. (WOFL-TV/Fox 35)
The young girl fell from Deck 4 of the ship – 49 feet from the surface of international waters. After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter.
BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by Disney Cruise Line rescue personnel on a tender that was launched from the ship.
Passengers were alerted that someone had fallen overboard by an announcement over the ship’s loudspeakers, passengers said in a Facebook post. Dewayne Smith, another passenger, wrote on Facebook that “Man Over Board” rang across the loudspeaker as rescue teams sprang into action.
“Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were both successfully rescued!” he wrote.
The girl, according to the Broward Health Medical Center, suffered from mild hypothermia, minor lactic acidosis, an excessive buildup of lactic acid in the blood, and no injuries from the fall. The father had hypothermia, lactic acidosis and two spinal fractures, the medical center said.
WATCH: Dad and daughter reportedly rescued after they went overboard on cruise
In a July 31 memo, Broward Assistant State Attorney Melissa Kelly decided not to charge the girl’s mother with child neglect resulting in great bodily harm.
“While the Defendant was irresponsible, her act of facilitating the victim’s position on the railing was an isolated incident that resulted from a momentary lapse in proper judgment and unawareness of surrounding circumstances,” Kelly wrote. “The child did not sustain any injuries and the Defendant immediately acquired help to rescue her daughter.”
The mom also denied having any previous allegations of child abuse. The memo also said the girl had previously taken swim lessons, but she could not swim.
When the girl fell overboard, her body was too small to trigger the Man Overboard ship sensors, Kelly said.
The girl’s father, who did not see the incident but heard the mother’s screams, jumped overboard to rescue his daughter. The man triggered the Man Overboard sensors, the memo said. He found his daughter in the water and held onto her until they were rescued, Kelly said.
WATCH: Girl, father reportedly rescued by Disney Cruise Lines after going overboard
Timeline:
11:30a.m. — The mom was taking pictures of her daughter on a cellphone when the girl climbed onto the 44-inch railing, sat down to face her mom and then lost her balance and fell overboard. The father jumped in after his daughter, initiating a Man Overboard protocol, which was broadcast over the ship’s communication system.
11:37 a.m. — A mayday call was initiated, and a rescue boat was launched three minutes later.
11:49 a.m. — The father and daughter were rescued from the water.
11:59 a.m. — The father and daughter were taken to the ship’s medical center and observed for nine hours, until transported to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
The Disney Cruise Line confirmed that they performed a water rescue on the Disney Dream on June 29. (Mark Gauert/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
A representative for Disney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. At the time, Disney confirmed the rescue of two passengers and praised “our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes.”
