A child, aged five, fell approximately 50 feet from a Disney Cruise ship after being requested to pose for a photo near an open porthole, as stated by authorities. The incident occurred while the young girl, accompanied by her parents, was onboard the Disney Dream cruise ship. The girl accidentally lost her balance while standing near the porthole and fell into the open sea, prompting her father to jump in after her within seconds.
Rumors suggesting that the father had lifted the girl onto the railing for a picture were swiftly debunked by Florida authorities. They clarified that the girl fell after being asked by her mother to stand next to the railing for a photo opportunity.
Following the fall, a distress call was made, and a rescue boat was dispatched within three minutes to retrieve the girl from the sea. Fortunately, the child sustained no serious injuries, although her father required medical attention for an unspecified issue.
Initially, there were discussions of potential criminal charges against the mother; however, the incident on June 29 was not deemed as “criminal culpable negligence” by the Florida state attorney, leading to the decision not to pursue prosecution.
State attorney Melissa Kelly, in a statement dated September 16, remarked that while the mother’s actions could be viewed as negligent and irresponsible, they did not meet the threshold of criminal culpable negligence as required by law.
The parents were questioned by Broward County sheriff officials, and their testimonies aligned with the security camera footage of the incident, resulting in the case being closed.
According to police reports, the mother allegedly admitted to taking several photos of her daughter near the ship’s railings during the trip. She expressed concerns about the lack of coverings on the windows and attributed responsibility to Disney for the incident.
Disney Cruises have been contacted for comment on the matter.
