Police have shut down false rumors about how a 5-year-old girl fell from a Disney cruise ship and was rescued by her father. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office corrected misinformation spreading online about the dramatic rescue.
What Really Happened
The incident occurred Sunday morning at 11:30 AM on the Disney Dream cruise ship. The girl was sitting on a 42.5-inch railing on the fourth deck when she fell backwards through a porthole into the ocean.
Sheriff Gregory Tony clarified that the father did not put his daughter on the railing for a photo, as false rumors claimed. The girl was already sitting there when she accidentally fell.
The Rescue
When the mother alerted her husband about the fall, the 37-year-old father immediately jumped into the ocean to save his daughter. He treaded water for 20 minutes while holding his daughter until the ship’s crew rescued them.
“After the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship,” Sheriff Tony explained.
Security Video Confirms Story
The ship’s security cameras backed up the family’s account of what happened. The footage showed the girl fell accidentally, contradicting online rumors that suggested the father was taking a risky photo.
Injuries and Treatment
The father suffered an unspecified injury during the rescue and was hospitalized after the ship returned to port. Both father and daughter were checked by the ship’s medical staff after being pulled from the water.
Viral Video
The rescue went viral on TikTok, showing the father in the water holding his daughter before handing her to rescuers. Passengers on the 3,500-capacity ship can be seen cheering when they realized both were safe.
Official Response
Sheriff Tony praised the crew’s training: “The crew’s ‘man overboard’ training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue.”
Disney Cruise Line commended their crew members for their “exceptional skills and prompt actions” that ensured both guests returned safely within minutes.
Fighting Misinformation
The sheriff’s office released these details specifically to combat false information circulating online. “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,” Sheriff Tony said.
The Disney Dream was sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas when the incident occurred.
