Police reveal how five-year-old fell from Disney cruise ship before father jumped in to saved her

Authorities in Florida have revealed what caused a young girl to fall from a balcony aboard a Disney cruise in late June, putting an end to online speculation about what really happened and accusations against the father. On June 29, a five-year-old fell from the fourth deck balcony of a Disney cruise ship that was travelling between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her father jumped overboard to save the girl , who reportedly cannot swim, and both were eventually rescued. In the days after the incident, speculation ran wild on social media about the events leading up to the accident, with some alleging that the girl’s father placed her on a railing to take pictures, or that he was dangling her over the edge of the balcony. These accusations were put to rest with a new report on what happened from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. According to police, as reported by the Daily Mail , the girl was sitting on the railing of the balcony when she lost her balance and fell “backwards through a porthole” into the Atlantic Ocean. In the report, it’s stated that the father did not witness the incident and was alerted by his wife that their daughter had fallen. “After the girl’s mother alerted her husband, who didn’t see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter,” the sheriff’s office said. Police said that the 37-year-old swiftly jumped in the water, reached his daughter and treaded water for 20 minutes before they were both brought to safety by the ship’s crew. “The father was hospitalized,” police said. “The family lives out of state. For the family’s continued privacy, detectives are not releasing their names, where they live, or the details of the father’s injury.” The Daily Mail reported that Disney Cruise Line praised the crew’s quick response, saying their actions brought both guests back on board within minutes and showed the strength of the ship’s safety protocols. “We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols,” said a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson.

• Dad jumps in to save little girl who fell from Disney cruise ship into the Atlantic Ocean
• Girl, 5, who fell off Disney cruise ship into ocean was 'not being held' on railing by father, authorities say

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