A child fell overboard during a Disney cruise, prompting her father to jump in after her in a dramatic rescue.
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA TODAY.
“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,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement.
Here’s what we know.
Child fell overboard during Disney cruise. Dad jumped after her
The Disney Dream was returning to Fort Lauderdale when a girl fell overboard from the fourth deck on Sunday, June 29, according to a cruise passenger.
Her father jumped in after her.
‘Mr. M.O.B.’: Disney crew rescues both child, dad
Passengers on the Disney Dream reported hearing the emergency code “Mr. M.O.B.,” which stands for man overboard.
Social media posts from cruisers described the rapid reaction from crew members, who launched life preservers and deployed a rescue boat within minutes.
The father tread water for about 20 minutes before cruise ship members arrived in a lifeboat, the Daily Mailreported.
How did the child fall overboard the Disney cruise ship?
It remains unclear how the child fell overboard. There are plexiglass safety barriers.
One passenger said in a post on Facebook the father had sat the girl on the railing, according to People.com.
Disney’s reaction to 2 guests falling off cruise ship
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement.
“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.”
Where was Disney Dream when child fell overboard?
The Disney Dream left Fort Lauderdale June 26 for a four-day trip to Nassau, Bahamas, followed by a stop at Disney’s Lookout Cay, according to cruisemapper.
The accident happened June 29 after the ship left Lookout Cay and was heading back to Fort Lauderdale, where was scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. June 30.
How easy is it to fall off the balcony of a cruise ship?
It’s not easy.
Every open deck and balcony is required to have railings “not less than 42 inches from above the cabin deck,” according to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, with thick metal or Plexiglas panels underneath to prevent anyone from slipping through.
That’s usually about chest height for the average person.
Some cruise lines — including Disney — have overboard detection sensors, which use thermal cameras and micro radars to detect incidents and alert crew members.
How many people fall overboard from a cruise ship?
Worldwide, as of 2025, 420 cruise and ferry passengers and crew have fallen overboard since 2000, according to a list from CruiseJunkie.
Most have fallen from a Carnival ship, 82, followed by RCI at 67.
An estimated 31.7 million people took cruises in 2023, according to statistics site Statista, which forecasted numbers to rise steadily to an estimated 39.4 million in 2027.
What should I do if I see someone go overboard on a cruise ship?
If you see someone fall or jump off a cruise ship, immediately throw them a flotation device if there is one nearby. Life buoys and orange life rings are available throughout the ship. Having something to hang onto increases the person’s chances of staying afloat and makes them easier to spot.
Shout out or notify a crew member as soon as you can and note the time so the bridge officers can identify the exact position of the ship at that time. Speed is of the essence. A cruise ship travels miles in a few minutes and does not turn around quickly.
Describe the person as best you can, including how fit they appeared, what they were wearing and if they were holding anything that might float. All those factors will affect likely survival times.
Disney Dream specs
According to cruisemapper, specs for the Disney Dream include:
Contributing: Josh Rivera, Nathan Diller, USA Today
This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Girl falls off Disney cruise ship returning to Florida. Father dives in after her. What we know
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
