A frightening moment aboard a Disney cruise ship turned into a big rescue after a child fell overboard and her father leapt after her. This June 29 incident happened when the Disney Dream was returning to Fort Lauderdale after a four-night Bahamian sailing. This also included a stop at Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The emergency code too rang out over the ship’s intercom, signalling a critical response. In this article, you will learn more about this incident.
Crew Aboard the Disney Dream Quickly Rescued Two Guests from Water
A Disney cruise line spokesperson said the following to USA Today in a statement, “The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water.” He also said, “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. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Social Media Posts from Cruisers
Many social media posts from cruisers are describing the quick reaction from crew members. These people launched life preservers and also deployed a rescue boat in minutes. Passenger Kevin Furuta is saying in a Facebook post that, “A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck & her dad went in after her..Thankfully the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved!”
Passengers Confirmed the Rescue Time
Although many thought that the ship was docked, passengers confirmed that the Disney cruise ship was cruising between the Bahamas and Florida during the rescue. The child fell into the water from Deck 4 which also has a walking track. But, many don’t know how the child fell overboard in spite of the ship’s plexiglass safety barriers.
Statements of Eye Witnesses
A passenger told the media that the child sat on the rail of the fourth-floor deck while someone took a picture. Gar Frantz said, “We watched it—you could see two little things… “It was crazy, it was horrific,” Gar Frantz said. Another passenger onboard, Gail Merrick, said she played bingo when she noticed the commotion on deck. She watched the rescue unfold.
She told NBC News, “We eventually discovered that a child had fallen, and the father immediately jumped in after her. We watched with bated breath, anxiously waiting to see what would happen.” Another eyewitness, James Tackett, described how the crowd erupted in cheers when the crew announced that they had safely rescued the father and daughter.
His mother also added the following “The Disney Cruise Line staff were phenomenal, the crew, everybody was on it. You could tell they’ve practiced this, hopefully have never used it before, but they were great. The whole thing was maybe 10, 15 minutes, and they safely got back on board.”
Passengers on the Disney Dream Ship Shared Details on This Incident
Passengers on the Disney Dream cruise ship shared details of the incident in the unofficial Disney Dream Cruise Ship Facebook group. The details showed that the girl fell overboard from the fourth deck and her father quickly followed in to rescue her. But the father kept his daughter afloat for around 20 minutes before the rescue team arrived to help.
Final Words
This nerve-racking incident aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship ended in relief due to the father’s quick action and the rescue team. Though the cause of the fall is unclear, the event shows the importance of safety protocols and the absolute bravery shown by the father and trained staff during this critical moment.
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