Father jumps off Disney cruise ship to save daughter who fell overboard
It has been reported the father was taking a photo of his daughter against a railing on the fourth deck when she fell into the water. Witnesses say the man then jumped into the water himself to rescue the girl.
A man overboard signal was quickly heard and crew members ventured into the water on a small boat to rescue the pair by pulling them onto the vessel, as passengers could be herd cheering.
Passengers on board the cruise ship describe what they saw.
"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.
One other described the father looking tired after treading water with his daughter for so long.
The incident took place on the last day of the cruise, as the ship was returning from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale.
Footage filmed by passengers shows the moment the small boat rescued the father and daughter.
Disney has released few official details about the incident but praised the quick work of their crew members in a statement.
"The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson said. "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."
It is rare for passengers to fall overboard from cruise ships and data from the Cruise Lines International Association shows the number of incidents is falling.
It remains the case however that when passengers do fall overboard they are rarely rescued. In 2019, 25 people fell overboard, but only nine were recovered.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
English Mediterranean island dubbed the UK's sunniest place is named 'best budge
You don't associate azure waters, golden sands, and subtropical microclimates with the UK. Nor do you think of tuning into French radio or spotting dolphins frolicking off the coast. But for the 140,000 residents on the Isle of Wight, a unique diamond-shaped island 12 miles off the coast of Portsmouth, this is reality. It's also the tiny patch of paradise I've called home for the last four years. In 2024, the island was named the sunniest place in the UK, receiving more sun than Italy during winter. But it's summer when this 147sqm stretch of land comes to life. Alongside rugged coastal paths, chalky cliff tops and shimmering bays, there's also a thriving creative community dedicated to putting this special place on the map. And, after the Isle of Wight was named the UK's best budget-friendly family holiday destination, there's never been a better time to explore this spectacular landscape. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The Isle of Wight is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a protected National Landscape, and there's a strong focus on respecting the environment. Being an island, the beaches are the main selling point. Trust me when I say, many rival the Caribbean. Priory Bay in the northeast of the island is one of them. Located in the aptly named 'Seaview,' you can't reach the beach by car. Rather, you walk along Seagrove Bay (a perfect spot for paddle boarding or kayaking in summer), climb some rickety wooden steps, and pass through a small area of forest. When the trees part, a horseshoe-shaped bay emerges: white, dusty sands and crystal clear waters are protected by lush, tropical-looking trees. Small boats bob up and down along the coast, and in summer, the smoky scent of barbecue wafts on the breeze. I remember seeing this view for the first time and thinking it looked exactly like the beach from Cast Away, just with more people. While the tranquil ocean at Priory Bay is an ideal place for kayaking, adrenaline junkies should head to Comptom Bay. Towering sandstone cliffs dominate this stretch of coast, and consistent waves make it one of the best spots for surfing. Fossil-hunting is common here, as the rocks on the beach date back 126 million years. If you're looking for a 'hidden gem,' head to Rocken End. This remote beach near the southern tip of the island is only accessible by a steep, winding path. Considered to be an insider Isle of Wight secret, the beach has no amenities and is an adventurer's dream. Keen to avoid crowds? Rocken End never gets busy, meaning you can often enjoy this wild landscape in solitude. A word of warning: Rocken End is a nudist beach, so if you're not into seeing people sunbathe sans clothes, maybe avoid this one. However, I've never actually seen anyone chilling in their birthday suit. Yet. Ironically, just down the road from here is Blackgang Chine, the UK's oldest theme park. A family-friendly attraction, with rides and Disney-esque castles to boot, standard entry fees are £18.95. Those under one metre go free. Venture to the southeast coast and you'll come across Ventnor, a unique seaside town with its own quirky personality. Visually, Ventnor Bay and its pastel-coloured buildings have been compared to European hotspots across France and Italy. Coincidentally, it's here you can pick up French radio and experience the famed microclimate responsible for the growth of Mediterranean plants. For proof of this, head to the Botanic Gardens. Spread across 22 acres, the green space boasts 6000 species of rare and exotic plants and trees, while temperatures average around five degrees warmer than the rest of the UK. Ventnor Botanic Garden is open all year round, and adult tickets cost £11.50. As many countries struggle with the effects of overtourism, the place dubbed as the 'English Mediterranean' could be the destination 'dupe' you've been looking for. Up in the town, thrift your days away in one of the many vintage or antique stores. For music lovers, no trip to Ventnor is complete without a visit to Ventnor Exchange, a cosy bar and record store. (Make sure you try the famous cherry beer.) As one of the Island's leading arts organisations, the venue hosts regular gigs and creative workshops. They're also the team behind the award-winning Ventnor Fringe Festival, an annual event that showcases emerging and established talent from the Island and beyond. This year, Ventnor Fringe Festival will run from July 18 to 27. Pick up tickets from the Ventnor Exchange Box Office – they're sold separately for each event and range in price. If you're on a budget, there's a wide range of free areas and performances to check out. The Isle of Wight Festival is also a major event on the Island. In the past, iconic artists like The Strokes, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie have taken to the main stage. 2025's headliners are Sting, Stereophonics and Justin Timberlake. 2024 Mercury prize-winners English Teacher are also performing. A weekend ticket costs £289.95. Down on the beach, it's more of a relaxing affair. After spending hours soaking up the sun, occasionally rising for a dip in the turquoise waters, grab some lunch from the traditional seafront cafe, Golden Sands. A personal favourite, the cafe was a finalist for 'Customer Service of the Year' at the 2025 Isle of Wight Radio Business Awards. Beware: the fish and chips here are not for the faint-hearted. Priced at a reasonable £12.85, the owner, Kyle, dishes out the biggest portions known to man. The cod is light and fluffy, the batter is perfectly crisped, and the chips are the definition of chef's kiss . You can only reach the Isle of Wight by ferry, and there are three routes. For foot passengers: From Portsmouth Harbour, take the Wightlink fast cat to Ryde Pier Head. One-way tickets cost £21.60 and take 20 minutes. You can also take the Hovertravel to Ryde from Southsea. The journey time is 10 minutes; one-way tickets are £24.60. From Southampton, jump on the Red Jet fast cat to West Cowes. A one-way journey costs £22.75 and takes 20 minutes. For vehicles: Wightlink travels from Portsmouth to Fishbourne in 45 minutes. Based on a vehicle up to 5m in length and 2.24m in height, economy tickets start from £42.00. Using the same vehicle measurements, Wightlink travels from Lymington to Yarmouth, with ticket prices starting at £66.50. The journey takes around 40 minutes. Red Funnel runs from Southampton to East Cowes. Prices for a car up to 5.5m in length and up to 2m in height start from £64.50 with a one-hour journey time. Should you have the energy to move after such a feast, take the opportunity to walk from Ventnor Beach to Steephill Cove. The postcard route takes around 25 minutes and has constant sea views. Another 'hidden gem,' the tiny cove offers beautiful scenery, clear swimming waters and rock pools to explore. If you're peckish, The Crab Shed is a local favourite. Try their famous crab pasties or mackerel ciabattas for £7.50 and £9.50. The Isle of Wight isn't just about seaside staple dishes, it's home to a full-throated culinary scene. The Garlic Farm in Newchurch is a one-of-a-kind concept focused on garlic-inspired dishes using locally sourced Island ingredients. The restaurant, which is located next to the farm shop (where you can pick up products like garlic ketchup, garlic balsamic vinegar and garlic beer), was crowned a 'Local Gem' in the 2024 Good Food Guide. I enjoyed the succulent 'Garlic beef burger,' with homemade burger sauce for £19. Though pricey, it was one of the best burgers I've ever tasted. True Food Kitchen in Ventnor is run by a group of award-winning chefs. Inside the restaurant, watch them whip up a fusion of Korean, Japanese, and Thai dishes from an open kitchen. More Trending I loved the pan-fried catch of the day (monkfish), paired with Asian veg, shisho chimmichuri, and chilli nori fries for £32. For something more casual, try Sandown Boulevard on Sandown seafront. Only open during the seasonal months, sit in the tiki-style terrace surrounded by local street food vendors who serve everything from pizzas, burgers, wings and shawarmas. I remember falling in love with the Isle of Wight as a child, when my family and I would travel down from Yorkshire during the summer. From the Instagrammable beaches, creative communities, and laid-back pace of life, it still has my heart to this day. MORE: The Canary Islands' 'best kept secret' gets first ever direct UK flights MORE: Daughter splashed £38,000 stolen from dementia-suffering dad on holidays MORE: British 'drug mule' Bella Culley says she was 'tortured' into smuggling
ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
Father jumps off Disney cruise ship to save daughter who fell overboard
Disney cruise ship crew rescued a father and daughter who fell into the water during a cruise between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has been reported the father was taking a photo of his daughter against a railing on the fourth deck when she fell into the water. Witnesses say the man then jumped into the water himself to rescue the girl. A man overboard signal was quickly heard and crew members ventured into the water on a small boat to rescue the pair by pulling them onto the vessel, as passengers could be herd cheering. Passengers on board the cruise ship describe what they saw. "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. One other described the father looking tired after treading water with his daughter for so long. The incident took place on the last day of the cruise, as the ship was returning from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale. Footage filmed by passengers shows the moment the small boat rescued the father and daughter. Disney has released few official details about the incident but praised the quick work of their crew members in a statement. "The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson said. "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." It is rare for passengers to fall overboard from cruise ships and data from the Cruise Lines International Association shows the number of incidents is falling. It remains the case however that when passengers do fall overboard they are rarely rescued. In 2019, 25 people fell overboard, but only nine were recovered.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Girl's final act moments before falling overboard on 14-storey Disney cruise
Passengers on the 14-deck Disney Dream cruise recall the girl and her father quickly disappearing into the horizon as the rescue team rushed to save them at sea Disney cruise passengers watched in horror as a young girl fell overboard, with her hero dad bravely jumping in to save her. The terrifying ordeal took place on Sunday afternoon while the 14-deck Disney Dream cruise was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from the Bahamas in the Caribbean. The $900m Disney Dream ship, which has a capacity of around 4,000 people, had been sailing around the Bahamas for four days and was on its last day. According to MailOnline, passenger Dewayne Smith posted on Facebook: "We're on the Disney Dream at sea today and just witnessed a first on a cruise. "A little girl fell overboard and her dad jumped overboard to try to save her. Man overboard calls went up immediately. The Disney crew went into action asap. Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were both successfully rescued." A witness said that the girl appeared to fall overboard into the Atlantic Ocean when her father took her picture against the rail of the luxury vessel. They had been on Deck 4 at the time of the incident, which includes a jogging track and is lined with protective panels aimed at preventing such falls. In a heroic act, her father dived over the railing into the waves to save her and the emergency alert "Mr M.O.B.", a code signifying a person overboard, was triggered. Staff sprang into action, lowering a yellow rescue boat into the sea. The father managed to keep his daughter's head above water until crew members from the liner reached them in a rescue boat. According to witnesses, they were treading water for around 10 minutes before being picked up. Passenger Laura Amado told CBS News: "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. "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." A dramatic video shared by Dewayne also captured the moment the rescue vessel navigated choppy waters to bring the little girl and her father back to safety. "It was so intense to watch," wrote shocked passenger Janice Martin-Asuque in a Facebook post. recounting the rescue by the Disney Cruise Line crew. A spokesperson told The Mirror: "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. "We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols." While no serious injuries were reported, questions remained about how the child managed to fall over the ship's plexiglass barrier.
