Overview

• Broward Sheriff’s Office investigators clarified on July 14 that the girl lost her balance and fell backward through a Deck 4 porthole, debunking photo speculation
• After the mother’s alert, the girl’s 37-year-old father dove into the ocean, found his daughter and treaded water for roughly 20 minutes
• The Disney Dream’s onboard rescue team and a tender vessel retrieved both passengers within 10–20 minutes and provided medical evaluation aboard
• Disney Cruise Lines hailed its crew’s rapid man-overboard response as proof of its effective safety protocols
• Industry experts are urging cruise lines to strengthen deck railings and install automated overboard detection systems following the incident