The father of the girl has been dubbed a ‘hero’ for jumping into the water after her, while witnesses watched on.
The schoolgirl tumbled overboard from deck four of the Disney Cruise Liner, which is roughly 20ft from the waterline – or to put it into perspective, is the height of a typical two-storey house in the US – on Sunday (June 29).
It occurred while the ‘Disney Dream’ ship was at sea, returning to Fort Lauderdale, in the southeast of Florida, after having visited Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, in The Bahamas.
Now, one of the passengers onboard the four-night cruise has described was she heard, having been in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
“There was some kind of commotion,” Chandler, who requested their second name remain anonymous, told People.
“Then this awful scream from what I assume is the mother and then this massive splash.
“It sounded like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool, it was so loud.”
It took place while the ship was traveling between Nassau and the Grand Bahama Island, Chandler explained.
The distance between the two islands is vast – 107 miles as the crow flies.
It is the same waters where Louisiana high school graduate Cameron Robbins disappeared from, after having jumped off a pirate-themed ship in May 2023. However, his b0dy was never discovered.
The incident on the Disney Dream vessel is understood to have taken place at roughly 11.15am (local time), with the pair pulled from the ocean at 11.47am, Chandler believes.
After just 15 seconds, an announcement was made on the tannoy, ‘MOB port side’ – the emergency code which means ‘man overboard’.
One user posted their experience on the Facebook group ‘Disney Dream Cruise Ship Group’, an unofficial page set up by fans of the cruise line so passengers can discuss their trip.
“On the last day of our Dream voyage and it is an at Sea Day. A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck & her dad went in after her,” they shared.
“Right after the incident we heard on the loud speaker MOB Port side!! Thankfully the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved!”
Disney Cruise Line has since issued the following statement: “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.”
Source: unilad.com