Father's Daring Mid-Ocean Rescue of Daughter After Fall from Disney Cruise Ship

A recent publication by CBS News highlights a remarkable incident where a father’s swift response saved his young daughter after she fell off the Disney Dream cruise ship while it was navigating between the bahamas and Fort Lauderdale. The five-year-old girl went overboard during the last stretch of their four-night cruise, prompting her dad to leap into the water without hesitation. Passengers reported that he managed to keep himself and his daughter afloat for over ten minutes until help arrived.

One passenger,Laura Amador,shared her experience: “The captain slowed down and turned the ship around. They sent out a rescue boat with crew members to retrieve them.” The crew acted quickly, sounding alarms throughout the ship and launching a rescue operation complete with life jackets.

The child reportedly fell from Deck 4, an area known for its shuffleboard courts and lounge chairs. It’s still unclear how she ended up in the water in the frist place. In response to this alarming event, Disney Cruise Line released a statement commending their team for their speedy thinking: “We applaud our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions that ensured both guests were safely returned within minutes. Our commitment to guest safety is paramount.”

This successful rescue is quite unusual in cruise line history; according to data from Cruise Junkie.com,Disney has only recorded two man-overboard incidents among 420 reported globally from 2000 through 2024—many of which tragically end fatally.

The Disney Dream made its way back to Port everglades early Monday morning following this dramatic episode.