Over the weekend, a 5-year-old girl went overboard while on a short cruise aboard Disney Dream. Although many argued that her father played a role in her falling off the ship, authorities are saying otherwise.
The chances of falling overboard are low. Cruise lines design their ships with high railings, surveillance systems, and other safety protocols to prevent these accidents.
As such, many claim that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the young girl to have fallen without being placed in a dangerous situation.
However, the Broward Sheriff's Office told CBS News Miami that the "little girl was not being held," refuting online speculation that her dad had been posing her for a picture on the ship's railing on Deck 4.
Disney Dream was finishing up a 4-night cruise to Nassau and Disney's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point when passengers reported hearing "Mr. M.O.B." (the cruise line's secret code for "man overboard") on the ship's public intercom.
After the girl went overboard, her father jumped in after her. He treaded water for more than 20 minutes while holding his daughter and keeping her head above the surface until help arrived. They were finally pulled from the ocean around 11:47am local time.
One guest told PEOPLE that they heard "some kind of commotion...then this awful scream from what [she assumes] is the mother, and then this massive splash" [that] "sounded like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool."
Laura Amador, another passenger who witnessed the harrowing moment, told ABC News that "[she] couldn't see the people" because "the ship was moving...so quickly."
However, the vessel quickly circled back to where the child was last seen and launched a swift rescue operation to ensure that she and her father were safely recovered.
Despite the allegations that the girl's father had her perched on a railing, many are praising him because of his willingness to risk his own life.
"That dad is an absolute hero! To jump off a cruise ship into the ocean (and survive!!) and be able to find his little girl and tread water while holding her up for 25+ minutes...is nothing short of astounding and an actual miracle in itself that they both survived," said one TikTok user.
Another wrote, "He immediately jumped in after her from 4 stories up, found her, and [treaded] water with her in his arms for 20+ minutes until she was safe. A lapse in judgment doesn't negate what a good father he is and how he handled the situation [in my opinion]."
"No matter how it happened, he knew he was either going to save her or go with her. She wasn't going to be alone."
Read more: Child goes overboard from Disney cruise ship; father jumps in to save her, reports claim
According to reports, the girl's parents were playing shuffleboard on Deck 4 when she climbed over the railing and fell into the ocean
Monica Shannon, a passenger on the cruise, told CBS News Miami that she was on Deck 3 with her family waiting to meet Disney princesses when the incident unfolded.
"I kind of see something really fast flew by, I didn't think anything of it," she said, "I just figured it was maybe a part of the show or just the experience, but about five minutes later, we heard that someone flew overboard."
Shannon later spoke to a crew member aboard the ship who supposedly saw the entire accident:
"The crew member who said that's her station and she was on the fourth floor, she did say that she was climbing up, and the parents were playing shuffleboard and the dad jumped in after her," she recalled.
"There doesn't appear to be anything suspicious"
While social media has been flooded with speculation, including comments that Child Protective Services should have been waiting on the pier for the family, the Broward Sheriff's Office has indicated that there aren't any obvious signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
"Based on media reports I have read, the Disney crew was well prepared. Clearly, their training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue. While there doesn't appear to be anything suspicious, Broward Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the circumstances that led up to the child falling overboard," read a statement issued by the Broward Sheriff's Office.
"This family is so blessed. It's great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome. The incident involved a father and his 5-year-old daughter."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
