A Disney cruise took a frightening turn June 29 when a young child fell overboard, prompting her father to leap into the ocean after her.
The Disney Dream was sailing through open waters en route to Fort Lauderdale when the incident occurred, TheStreet reported. Shortly after, passengers heard the emergency code “Mr. M.O.B.” — signaling a man overboard — broadcast over the ship’s speakers.
According to Disney Cruise Line, both the child and her father were pulled from the ocean “within minutes,” thanks to the rapid response of the ship’s crew.
NEW: Father jumps overboard to save his 5-year-old daughter, who fell off a Disney cruise ship from the 4th deck into the ocean.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 30, 2025
The ship was heading back to South Florida when the intense rescue was made.
"The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it's crazy how quickly the… pic.twitter.com/PTGmAzZJ7O
“The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told TheStreet. “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.”
According to CBS News, the father treaded water for more than 10 minutes before the rescue boat was able to pull both of them from the ocean.
Notably, the ship was traveling at full speed when the incident occurred.
“The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it’s crazy how quickly the people became tiny dots in the sea, and then you lost sight of them,” passenger Laura Amador told CBS News. “The captain slowed the ship and turned it around, and then they deployed a tender ship with people on it to go get them, and we saw them rescue the dad and daughter.”
It remains unclear how the child initially fell from the ship, which is equipped with multiple safety features including plexiglass barriers. Reports indicate that the child fell from Deck 4, a walking track area, but the details are still under review.
“It took everybody’s breath away, to be honest with you,” passenger Eric Pabon told CBS News. “Very nerve-racking to say the least, but as a father, [I] would’ve done the same thing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience [that] I hope I never get to see again.”
Editor’s note: Initial reports said the girl was 4 years old; however, CatholicVote has since confirmed the girl was 5. This article was updated accordingly July 3 .