In response to numerous media inquiries and misinformation, I am sharing the information below regarding an incident involving a father who saved his daughter after she fell overboard while the family was vacationing on a cruise ship.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 29, on deck 4 of a Disney cruise ship, while the ship was in international waters somewhere between the Bahamas and Port Everglades. Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate the moments before a 5-year-old girl lost her balance while sitting on a railing and falling backward through a porthole. After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter. BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship.
The crew’s “man overboard” training and readiness paid off because they executed a successful ocean rescue. BSO investigators said the total time from the child’s accidental fall to the rescue was about 20 minutes. Once rescued, the father and daughter were checked out by the ship’s medical staff. And after the ship arrived Monday morning at Port Everglades, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue transported them to an area hospital. The father was hospitalized. The family lives out of state. For the family’s continued privacy, detectives are not releasing their names, where they live, or the details of the father’s injury.
BSO detectives have reviewed the ship’s security video, which corroborates the statements from the family and cruise ship staff. The investigation into this matter continues. This family is so blessed. It’s great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome.
A father or mother will do what they have to in order to save the life of their child. Very glad both survived and praises to the crew of the ship for their quick response to save both. Kudos to all concerned.