Girl Falls From Disney Cruise: Police Break Silence And Address Rumours Blaming Her Dad

A family holiday aboard the Disney Dream turned into a heart-stopping ordeal on 29 June 2025 when a five-year-old girl fell overboard from the ship's fourth deck, prompting her father to dive into the ocean to save her.

As the dramatic rescue unfolded near Fort Lauderdale in Florida, rumours spread online, with some accusing the dad of endangering his daughter by placing her on a railing for a photo.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office has now broken its silence, debunking these claims and praising the father's heroism.

Clear Father of False Accusations

The Broward Sheriff's Office clarified on 2 July 2025 that the girl was not held or sitting on the 42.5-inch railing when she fell through a porthole, losing her balance while climbing.

Her 37-year-old father, alerted by his wife's cries, didn't see her fall but jumped in immediately, treading water for 20 minutes to keep her afloat.

Sheriff Gregory Tony confirmed security footage corroborated family and crew statements, dismissing social media claims of negligence as 'erroneous'

Passenger Monica Shannon, who spoke to a crew member, said the girl was climbing near the shuffleboard courts when a gust may have caused her to topple.

The father, injured during the rescue, was hospitalised upon the ship's return to Port Everglades.

Execute Swift Ocean Rescue

The Disney Dream, a 4,000-passenger ship returning from a four-night Bahamian cruise, sprang into action when the girl fell at 11:30 a.m.

The ship's 'Mr MOB' alarm blared, and crew members deployed a rescue boat within minutes, navigating choppy waters to reach the pair.

Passenger Dewayne Smith shared on Facebook that the crew's response was immediate, with life preservers tossed and the ship slowed to aid the rescue.

Videos posted on X showed the yellow boat pulling the father and daughter aboard, met with cheers from onlookers.

Disney Cruise Line praised its crew's 'exceptional skills,' noting the pair's safe return within 20 minutes, a rare success given only 25% of overboard cases result in rescues.

Restore Faith in Safety Protocols

The incident, while traumatic, highlighted the safety protocols of Disney Cruise Line.

Deck four's plexiglass barriers, designed to prevent falls, didn't stop the girl from climbing through a porthole, but the crew's training ensured a swift response .

Passenger Nikki Samsill Jackson called it 'traumatizing' but praised the crew's professionalism.

X posts lauded the father as a 'hero,' with some users noting the miracle of no shark encounters in the area.

The mother, described as 'hysterical' by witnesses, was supported by crew as she shouted that her daughter couldn't swim.

The ongoing investigation found no suspicious circumstances, but it's probing how the child accessed the porthole.

Hero Dad's Bravery Shines Through

The father who risked his life to save his daughter is no villain, he's a hero. The Broward Sheriff's Office's statement has quashed baseless rumours, affirming his split-second courage saved her life.

Disney's rescue operation, executed with precision, underscores the effectiveness of its safety measures. Yet, the incident raises questions about porthole accessibility on cruise decks.

For now, this family's story is one of survival and relief, but it's a stark reminder of how quickly a holiday can turn perilous.