(Nexstar) – According to the Florida Sheriff’s Office, there was a girl who went overboard from a Disney Dream cruise ship on Sunday and sat on the railing before retreating through Porthole and entering the sea.
The Disney Dream ship was sailing from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday when the 5-year-old girl fell into the water, the WFLA of Nexter previously reported. Her father jumped in after her and helped her float until rescuers arrived, witnesses said.
Footage shared online by fellow passengers showed two passengers in the waves until the crew recovered. Both were safely returned to the boat.
Video: Family rescued by the Coast Guard after being stuck off the coast of Florida Coast
The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) later determined that the girl was sitting on the railing of the ship’s fourth deck when she lost her balance and “retreats from the bow” when she lost her balance.
“After warning his husband to the mother of a girl who had not seen the incident, he jumped into the sea to save her daughter,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement obtained by Nexstar. “BSO detectives said their 37-year-old father stepped on the water until he was rescued by a bid fired from the ship after finding his daughter.”
BSO added that the man helped the daughter float for about 20 minutes. He also hurt himself during the ordeal, but department officials withheld details of the injury and family identities for privacy reasons.
The father was treated at a Fort Lauderdale area hospital, a statement confirmed.
“This family is very blessed. It’s great to be able to deal with the good news rather than being tragic,” BSO wrote.
Child died after water was rescued from Florida Beach, child
Both the Sheriff’s Office and Disney Cruise Line spokesperson praised the ship’s crew for their actions to help rescue two passengers.
“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of safety protocols,” Disney Cruise Line previously told WFLA.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, BSO says. Representatives from Disney Cruise Line did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding BSO’s initial findings.
