A father and his daughter were rescued from the ocean after falling overboard from a Disney Cruise Line ship on Sunday afternoon, prompting praise for the ship’s crew and relief among passengers who witnessed the ordeal unfold in real time.
The incident occurred aboard the Disney Dream as it sailed on a roundtrip voyage between Florida and the Bahamas. Passenger Gar Frantz said he was on the fourth-floor deck when he saw the child, who had been sitting on the ship’s railing while the father took a picture, fall into the water.
“Then the child fell overboard,” Frantz recalled. “We watched it, you could see two little things … it was crazy, it was horrific.”
The father reportedly jumped in immediately after the child in an effort to save her.
Fellow passenger Gail Merrick was playing bingo when she noticed a sudden commotion outside. “We came to find out that it was a child and then the father had gone in after the child, so we were watching with bated breath basically waiting for what would happen,” she told NBC News.
Merrick said she saw a yellow rescue boat with crew members being deployed, and the Disney Dream itself made a sharp turn to return to the spot. According to Disney, the two guests were recovered within minutes.
“We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship,” Disney said in a statement. “We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Disney did not provide any identifying details about the guests or clarify how far into the journey the ship was when the fall occurred.
Passenger James Tackett said he felt the ship lurch into a sharp turn before hearing what had happened. “When they did officially get the people, everyone cheered,” he said. “It was a good moment.”
His mother, Brenda Tackett, who was also onboard, praised the crew’s swift and professional response.
“You could tell they’ve practiced this – hopefully have never used it before – but they were great,” she said. “The whole thing was maybe 10, 15 minutes and they safely got back on board.”
Disney After the rescue, the Disney Dream resumed its journey. “Thankfully it turned out positive,” Merrick said, “and we were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise.”
Images: Disney Dream / NBC News
