When a 5-year-old girl fell overboard and jumped into the Atlantic, the family’s vacation on a Disney cruise ship turned into a horrifying ordeal. Her father quickly jumped into the water after her, putting his own life at risk to keep her safe.
The shocking incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, June 29th. After a four-night cruise in the Bahamas, the ship returned to Fort Lauderdale (Florida). Reports say the child fell overboard from the open deck area, but the exact situation is still unknown, but the incident is still under investigation. The father was lucky enough to respond quickly, climbing the railing and jumping into the water to save his daughter.
Emergency response
The ship’s crew was quick to activate the “man’s outboard” emergency protocol. The announcement directed that all passengers were to avoid the deck area while the crew deployed the rifling and rescue ship. Additionally, the ship also turned to assist in searching. After about 15-20 minutes, the rescue team found both the father and daughter and brought them back to safety. Healthcare personnel evaluated them and reported both to be stable.
Continuous investigation
Disney cruise ships have plexiglass barriers installed on the railing for safety, but officials, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating precise details of how the child fell overboard. Falling overboard from a cruise ship is a rare, but serious accident and rarely survives. Survival usually depends on many related factors, such as water temperature, flow, and the amount of time it takes to find and rescue people. Children are particularly vulnerable in such situations. Disney Cruise Line praised the crew for their prompt and professional response to the emergency, highlighting their commitment to the safety of their guests. The investigation is ongoing and Disney Cruise Line indicates that it will consider safety procedures to prevent future incidents.
