Disney Cruise Line has confirmed the rescue of two guests from the water after a young girl fell overboard and her father jumped in to save her.
Although passenger overboard events are rare on cruise ships, the incident happened on the Disney Dream off the port of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday (29 July) as the ship was returning from a four-night cruise to the Bahamas (via ABC News).
A spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line told the publication: “The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water.
“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.”
They added, “We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Social media footage shows the rescue crew from the Disney Dream using a small yellow boat to pull the father and daughter from the water.
Via the BBC, the pair were apparently treading water for 10 minutes. This came after the girl appeared to fall from the ship when her father took her picture against a railing, witnesses said.
A man overboard alert was broadcast on the Disney Dream, and its crew rushed to recover the duo.
Father and daughter rescued from water
“The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it’s crazy how quickly the people became tiny dots in the sea, and then you lost sight of them,” passenger Laura Amador said.
“The captain slowed the ship and turned it around, and then they deployed a tender ship with people on it to go get them, and we saw them rescue the dad and daughter,” she told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Disney Cruise Line is currently expanding its fleet to offer a total of 13 ships.
Images courtesy of Disney Cruise Line
