The Disney Dream was on its way back to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas when the emergency “man overboard” code was activated on the ship, as reported by The Street.
“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream acted quickly to rescue two guests from the water,” a spokesperson from Disney Cruise Line told USA Today. “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 prioritize the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident demonstrates the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”
Passengers took to social media to praise the crew for their immediate response in launching life preservers and a rescue boat.
One passenger, Kevin Furuta, shared, “A girl fell overboard from the 4th deck & her dad jumped in after her… Thankfully the DCL rescue team acted swiftly and both were saved!”
However, one report mentioned that the man and his daughter were in the water for up to 20 minutes before help arrived. Some passengers told CBS News that they were in the water for at least 10 minutes.
A video shared by passenger Janice Martin-Asuque captured a small lifeboat rescuing the pair from the water. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Newsweek referenced statistics from Cruise Lines International Association, stating that there are 20 to 25 overboard incidents on passenger ships each year. Boarding Area reported a survival rate of 17% to 25% based on data from 2009 to 2019.
JS has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for further comments.
