5-Year-Old Falls From Disney Dream; Father Rescues, No Charges

On June 29 a five-year-old girl fell about 49–50 feet from the 14‑deck Disney Dream after, according to a police report, her mother encouraged her to pose in front of an open porthole. The father jumped into the sea seconds later to rescue her; video shows him treading water while the child held onto him, the crew sounded a man‑overboard alarm and deployed a yellow rescue boat, and ship personnel recovered both after about 20 minutes; the father was treated onboard. Broward County investigators said the father did not lift the child onto the railing and that the mother had taken multiple photos of the girl near the opening. Prosecutors had recommended charges against the mother, but Florida’s state attorney declined to file criminal culpable‑negligence charges and closed the case. The father was widely praised as a hero but also faced intense online vilification and false rumors about his role in the fall.