The father who jumped off a Disney Cruise after his daughter fell overboard has described the terrifying episode in detail to police.
On Sunday, June 29, the Disney Dream ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after a four-night cruise to the Bahamas. Around 11:30 a.m. local time, a 5-year-old girl went overboard, falling 49 feet into the ocean. The girl’s father subsequently jumped in after her. Luckily, both family members were pulled out of the water by rescue crews and returned safely to the vessel.
According to newly released police reports obtained by PEOPLE from Florida’s Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County State Attorney’s office, the girl’s mother had allegedly encouraged the 5-year-old to pose for a photo near an open porthole. The girl climbed and sat atop the railing before losing her balance and falling backwards. According to investigators, the mother said she believed there was a covering for the opening behind the 47-inch-tall railing.
From a hospital room at Broward Health Medical Center, the father described the rescue in detail to investigators.
“He reported that the family had been walking on deck 4 when his wife stopped to take a photo of their daughter sitting on the railing,” deputy David Argenti wrote. “He stated that he was approximately 10 feet ahead and did not witness the fall.”
After hearing his wife scream, he turned around and spotted his daughter in the water. About 45 seconds later, he jumped in himself to attempt a rescue.
“He noted difficulty locating his daughter in the water and admitted losing visual contact temporarily,
Father Who Jumped Off Disney Cruise to Rescue Daughter Says He Lost Sight of Her in Wavest: Police
