A family vacation aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream turned into a harrowing ordeal when a father jumped into the ocean to rescue his daughter after she reportedly fell overboard. The dramatic incident unfolded on June 29 as the ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale from a four-night Bahamian cruise, which featured a visit to Disney’s newest private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Thanks to the swift and coordinated response from the ship’s crew, both the father and daughter were safely rescued within minutes, avoiding tragedy and highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness at sea.
NEW: Father jumps overboard to save his 5-year-old daughter, who fell off a Disney cruise ship from the 4th deck into the ocean.
The ship was heading back to South Florida when the intense rescue was made.
"The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it's crazy how quickly the… pic.twitter.com/PTGmAzZJ7O
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 30, 2025
According to Disney Cruise Line and eyewitness statements, the girl fell from the ship’s fourth deck. Her father immediately jumped into the ocean to save her. Within minutes, crew members sent a rescue boat and deployed life rings to pull both passengers from the water.
Swift action was taken, and no juries reported
“The crew aboard the Disney Dream swifty rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise spokesperson stated to Fox News, praising the staff’s “exceptional skills and prompt actions.” Passengers on board mentioned that the ship’s loudspeakers announced an urgent alert, ‘’Man overboard!’’ just before the crew took action.
Passenger Kevin Fruta shared on Facebook that the father and daughter were rescued quickly. “A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck and her dad went in after her,” he stated. ‘’Thankfully, the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved!”
Another passenger, Dewayne Smith, described how the mood on board suddenly changed as the emergency unfolded. “Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were successfully rescued,” he added, as quoted by Fox News.
As per the latest report, no injuries have been reported, and the exact reason behind the fall has not been disclosed.
Disney later released a statement on the incident, saying, “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.” The company highlighted its commitment to passenger security, further adding, “This incident underlines the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
No comments have been released by the US Coast Guard on the incident. The identities of the father and the daughter have not been revealed yet.