Hero Dad Leaps Off Disney Cruise Ship to Save Daughter Who Fell Overboard

A Disney cruise vacation took a dramatic turn on June 29 when a young girl fell overboard from the Disney Dream luxury liner. Her father immediately jumped into the Atlantic Ocean in a courageous effort to save her, prompting an emergency rescue operation.

The incident occurred during the ship’s return voyage to Fort Lauderdale after a four-night cruise through the Bahamas, including a stop at Disney’s private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The Disney Dream, a $900 million vessel, was sailing at service speed—reportedly over 25 mph—when the event took place.

According to reports, the ship’s emergency intercom broadcast the code “Mr. M.O.B.” (man overboard), alerting passengers and crew to the developing situation.

Child Falls from Deck 4, Father Jumps In

Eyewitnesses recounted seeing the child fall from Deck 4, which features a walking track lined with plexiglass safety barriers. The exact circumstances of how the toddler managed to fall overboard remain unclear, despite the installed precautions.

Without hesitation, the father leapt from the ship in an attempt to keep his daughter afloat. As the ship continued to move forward, both were left drifting behind in open water.

“A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck & her dad went in after her… Thankfully the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved,” passenger Kevin Furuta wrote in a Facebook post.

Another passenger, Dewayne Smith, echoed similar sentiments: “We are on the Disney Dream at sea today and just witnessed a first on a cruise. A little girl fell overboard and her dad jumped overboard to try to save her… The Disney crew went into action asap. Lots of praying folks on this ship! Both the little girl and dad were successfully rescued.”

Swift Crew Response and Rescue Operation

Within minutes, Disney crew members deployed a bright yellow rescue boat into the ocean. Battling choppy seas, the rescue team reached the pair after the father reportedly kept his daughter above water for nearly 20 minutes.

“One observer noted online: ‘Ten-ish minutes later a lifeboat drops and they find the people within 3–5 minutes of that. The man treaded water for at least 20 minutes.’”

The dramatic scene unfolded in front of passengers watching from the deck rails. Traveler Janice Martin-Asuque described the experience on social media: “It was so intense to watch.” Relief swept through the ship as both the father and daughter were safely pulled aboard, with passengers erupting into cheers once the rescue was complete.

Disney Commends Crew’s “Exceptional Skills”

Footage from the scene showed the yellow rescue craft maneuvering through the waves as crew members pulled the two guests from the water.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Disney Cruise Line praised the crew’s professionalism and training:

“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. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”

The Disney Dream, which first sailed in 2010 and underwent its latest refurbishment in 2024, is equipped with overboard detection systems designed to alert crew members in real time and enable rapid emergency response.