A five-year-old girl fell overboard from a Disney cruise ship in June while posing for photos at her mother’s request, according to a Florida police report released in mid-October. The incident occurred on June 29 as the family was returning to Florida after a four-day trip to a Bahamian resort aboard the Disney Dream.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office report indicates that the family, who were first-time cruisers, was walking along Deck 4 when the girl climbed onto the railing of an open porthole for a picture. Witnesses and security footage revealed that she lost her balance and fell nearly 50 feet into the Caribbean Sea. Her father, who was walking ahead, only realized something was wrong when he heard his wife’s frantic scream.

In a swift response, the father jumped into the water to rescue his daughter, activating the ship’s man overboard sensors. However, the sensors did not detect the girl’s fall due to her small size. Despite the challenging conditions, the father was able to locate his daughter after calling her name. The ship’s crew deployed a rescue boat 11 minutes after the fall, and both were rescued nine minutes later.

After the incident, both the girl and her father were taken to the ship’s medical center. The father required hospitalization for an undisclosed injury, while the girl, who had taken swimming lessons but was not able to swim, was unharmed. A deputy who assessed the girl the following morning noted she was eating breakfast and behaving normally.

The mother was investigated for possible child neglect due to her actions. The state attorney’s office deemed her behavior “irresponsible” but ultimately decided not to file criminal charges. Assistant state attorney Melissa Kelly stated, "While the defendant's conduct is arguably negligent and irresponsible, it does not rise to the egregious level of conduct necessary to establish criminal culpable negligence."

The mother later told investigators that she believed the porthole had a protective covering and felt that Disney should be held responsible for the incident. A detective who inspected the area found the opening to be unprotected, describing the situation as “blatantly” unsafe. He noted that the mother’s decision to allow her daughter to pose in such a manner could be seen as a failure to supervise.

Disney released a statement praising its crew for their prompt action during the rescue. The company emphasized its commitment to guest safety and the effectiveness of its safety protocols. The incident has drawn significant attention on social media, with videos of the rescue circulating widely.